Hundreds of small earthquakes are still measured on the Reykjanes peninsula every day. In the last month, 7,300 earthquakes have been detected near Svartsengi and Þorbjörn. Twenty-two of them were over three in size. The steady influx of magma probably explains the landslide, according to a nature conservation expert. Hundreds of earthquakes a day Earthquake activity on the Reykjanes peninsula has been considerable in recent days. In the last 24 hours, 300 earthquakes were recorded there; on Friday they were 500; 150 on Saturday; and 400 on Sunday. The largest earthquake in the group so far was May 4, 4.3 magnitude. The quakes are caused by magma moving in these areas.
Einar Hjörleifsson, a nature conservation expert, says that there seems to be a steady influx of magma and that explains the landslide in the area. However, there is currently no evidence that the magma is moving closer to the surface.
How do you assess the probability of an eruption, as it is today?
"We just look at the situation day by day. These new photos yesterday indicated that the magma was in a similar place, but it was at a similar height in the earth's crust, "says Einar. "So it seems to be trying to push itself horizontally around the earth's crust, rather than vertically, and form a kind of shelf or ledge there at a depth of 4-6 kilometers."
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