Seismic Imaging and monitoring in Iceland:  ongoing eruption sites and unexplored areas

The Reykjanes Peninsula in SW Iceland is currently an area of great interest, both due to the long-term exploitation of geothermal systems used for energy generation and since an ongoing series of volcanic eruptions began there in 2021. Accordingly, it is heavily instrumented with seismic monitoring stations run by numerous international groups. Bringing together data from both current and historic seismic data, we generate updated images of deep crustal and upper most mantle structure down to 40km, providing large-scale tectonic context for the ongoing volcanic unrest.

Unlike the rest of Iceland the remote central Icelandic highlands have previously had little-to no seismic monitoring, despite the presence of two major active volcanic systems. Here we present the first results from a Durham run network of 15 broadband instruments that provide insight into detailed micro-seismicity in this never-before studied region. Results reveal exponentially increasing rates of micro-seismicity beneath Hofsjökull (Iceland’s largest active volcano by area), including tantalising suggestions of deep low-frequency events that may indicate magma movement at depth.

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