Increased seismic activity in and around Bárðarbunga volcano in the past two weeks will be discussed today at a meeting of scientists from the Department of Civil Protection in Iceland, Vísir reports. They will compare notes and discuss possible reasons for recent increase in activity.
According to the Icelandic Met Office, tremors have increased in this area lately, with two of them measuring a magnitude 3.0, one last week of 3.1 and the other Monday, measuring 3.2. The area is monitored 24 hours a day.
Update:
Scientists at the meeting concluded that the increased tension in the area can be explained by an accumulation of magma under the caldera, which they say is not unusual following a large eruption, RÚV reports.
According to Kristín Jónsdóttir, geophysicist, there is no reason to expect anything to happen in Bárðarbunga right now, but 24-hour monitoring continues. “This, of course, is a beast we don’t know very well,” she said. “We’ve never before followed an eruption there with modern monitoring. So, of course we’re on the alert and a group of scientists will meet soon to go over all available information.”
