Icelandic volcano swell signals potential eruption

[Swordsmyth]

Small earthquakes and a so-called "inflation" of the mountain, signalling a potential volcanic eruption, have been reported near Iceland's famous "Blue Lagoon," local authorities said Monday.The Icelandic Met Office declared a state of uncertainty over the weekend, following days of several smaller earthquakes and a swelling of the mountain.
Alert levels for aviation were also raised from "green" to "yellow," defined as when a volcano "is experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels."
For nearly a week, a series of earthquakes have been shaking the area around Grindavik, not far from the steaming waters of the "Blue Lagoon," a popular geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland on the Reykjanes Peninsula.


The largest recorded quake had a magnitude of 3.7.
Swarms of earthquakes are not unusual in the area, but the fact that they were occurring alongside an "unusually fast" inflation of Mount Thorbjorn, a few kilometres (miles) from Grindavik, was "a cause for concern and closer monitoring," according to the Icelandic Met Office.
A rise of about 3.0-4.0 millimetres a day has been detected, totalling 2.0 centimetres on Sunday, and is suspected to be from magma accumulation a few kilometres under ground.
Depending on the cause, a few scenarios are being considered.
If the rise is due to accumulation of magma in the volcano, it could either simply cease or continue to build up, potentially leading to an eruption.
But if the rise is due to tectonic activity, it could signal more powerful earthquakes in store.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/icelandic-vol...160650035.html

[Zippyjuan]

https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/n...tingency_plan/

“We know that nine times out of ten, such seismic activity doesn’t lead to a volcanic eruption, but of course we want to be prepared for anything, which is why we’re reviewing these plans,” she adds.

Every day, about 1,500 tourists, on average, visit the Blue Lagoon. Although an eruption doesn’t appear likely, Helga states, given the current situation, the Blue Lagoon is working closely with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and closely monitoring the situation.