Askja

Seismicity by period · derived statistics from Skjálftalísa (Icelandic Met Office)

Status (automatic)

In the last 24 hours, no seismic activity was measured in Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, and activity is now decreasing compared to the weekly average. This scattered background activity is within normal levels for the area and most closely resembles the period around August 17, 2024. Uplift of approximately 41 mm/year is measured according to GNSS data that are several weeks old, but these figures are automatic preliminary results. Further details on uplift and trends can be found lower on the page.

Depth — 3D and cross-section Askja and Herðubreið · last 90 days

Each dot is an earthquake, depth as the third dimension — Askja and Herðubreið, last 90 days. Drag the 3D view to rotate; point at a dot for details.

3D (rotatable) · depth ×2.5

Cross-section — distance along profile (km) vs depth (km)

Map (top view)

<24 klst2–7 dolderunconstrained depthsize ∝ magnitude (M)

⚠ Preliminary depths, unreliable (automatic Met Office solutions; depth often poorly constrained). events with unconstrained (default) depth shown as open rings — not real structure. For illustration, not analysis.

🕰️ Last eruption / event — 65 years ago

Vikrahraun (Askja eruption) (1961-10-26). Vikrahraun (Oct 26 – Dec 5, 1961) produced ~0.1 km³. After ~30 years of subsidence (1983-2014), Askja has been rising since 2021 — ~50-80 cm accumulation at ~3 km depth. No imminent-eruption signs, but the process is notable.

Central volcano in the Dyngjufjöll mountains of the highlands. A large explosive eruption in 1875 spread ash to Scandinavia; last erupted in 1961. Uplift measured since 2021. (overview — more at vedur.is) · circle on the map = rough outline of the system (radius).

📜 Did you know?

The 1875 Askja eruption sent a massive ash cloud over east Iceland and reached Scandinavia. It contributed to an emigration wave in which about 15-20% of Icelanders moved to North America in the following decades (Helgi Skúli Kjartansson). On Lake Askja, German scientists Walter von Knebel and Max Rudloff vanished on 10 July 1907 — one of the most famous disappearances in Icelandic geoscience.

Historical eruptions in the system — points colored by size, blue circle shows where we are now in time.

❓ What if Askja erupts again?

Timeline: Land has risen ~80 cm at Askja since 2014 (magma accumulation at 3 km). No imminent-eruption signs but the process is notable. Scenarios: Small lava eruption in caldera (like 1961) — no settlements at risk. Or Plinian explosive eruption (like 1875) — ash over NE Iceland, possibly comparable to that which triggered the emigration wave. Lake Askja tsunami: Possible if a large caldera-wall section collapses into the lake (cf. 2014 event when 30 million m³ slid in). Wave can reach the tourist area at Víti. Settlements: None directly at risk. Mývatn area and Egilsstaðir may have air-quality issues. Last eruption: 1961 (small lava). 1875 was the major event. Sources: Wikipedia, GVP, Iceland natural-hazards research.

This is not a forecast. Based on historical experience and official hazard assessments from the Met Office / Civil Protection.

24 h48 h7 d30 d365 d2 y

Points = earthquake locations in the selected window, coloured by magnitude: ● M3+ · ● M2+ · ● smaller (a sample if more than 800).

Earthquakes

Largest

–

M3,0+

Depth range

–

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 0 earthquakes · count moment

Depth (0 km at top).

Not enough depth data.

Magnitude distribution

Earthquakes

Largest

M-0.2

M3,0+

Depth range

5–5 km

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 1 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M-0.2 · count moment

Depth (0 km at top).

Not enough depth data.

Magnitude distribution

Earthquakes

Largest

M1.5

M3,0+

Depth range

0–8 km

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 17 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.8 · count moment

Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.

Magnitude distribution

Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.

Earthquakes

Largest

M1.5

M3,0+

Depth range

0–18 km

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 42 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.8 · count moment

Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.

Magnitude distribution

Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.

Earthquakes

408

Largest

M2.0

M3,0+

Depth range

0–24 km

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 408 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.6 · count moment

Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.

Magnitude distribution

Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.

Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.

Earthquakes

1417

Largest

M2.0

M3,0+

Depth range

0–24 km

Earthquakes over time

Cumulative count · 1417 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.7 · count moment

Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.

Magnitude distribution

Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.

Depth is automatic and uncertain; earthquakes alone do not show magma movement — deformation (GPS) and gas are needed. Grey points: automatic fixed-depth values. b-value computed for M≥1.5 (automatic magnitudes make lower completeness unreliable). Preliminary data.

Glossary & magnitude scale →

Uplift — GNSS deformation

THOC — land rising ~42 mm/yr (árstíða-leiðrétt) · long-term +21 mm/yr (MIDAS)

REYK (Reykjavík) — reference ~-2 mm/yr

Up = land rising (possible magma accumulation), down = subsidence. From Nevada Geodetic Lab (third-party processing, ~3-week lag, latest 2026-05-02). Interpreted deformation: Icelandic Met Office.

🌊 Volcanic tremor — The volcanic tremor baseline is currently normal and should only be compared to recent da…

IMO tremor plot (station ask). Most of the signal is weather and surf — not eruption confirmation. All stations: vedur.is.

The volcanic tremor baseline is currently normal and should only be compared to recent days due to unreliable weather models at this inland station. (AI)

Band analysis past 9 days (from digitized RSAM values). High 2-4 Hz + low 0.5-1 Hz = possible magma-movement signal; high 0.5-1 Hz without 2-4 Hz = weather/surf.

Earthquakes in the system

Time (UTC)	Mag	Depth	Area
2026-06-08 19:27	M-0.2	5.3	Önnur svæði
2026-06-08 06:22	M0.1	1.9	Önnur svæði
2026-06-07 23:29	M1.5	4.5	Önnur svæði
2026-06-07 23:29	M1.4	1.2	Önnur svæði
2026-06-07 18:29	M0.1	4.3	Önnur svæði
2026-06-07 18:29	M-0.6	2.3	Önnur svæði
2026-06-06 19:14	M-0.2	1.9	Önnur svæði
2026-06-06 19:14	M0.1	0.0	Önnur svæði
2026-06-06 18:09	M-0.5	4.4	Önnur svæði
2026-06-05 22:22	M-0.6	3.2	Önnur svæði
2026-06-05 18:39	M1.0	4.0	Önnur svæði
2026-06-05 18:39	M0.2	4.1	Önnur svæði
2026-06-05 01:19	M0.3	7.9	Önnur svæði
2026-06-05 01:19	M0.6	4.8	Önnur svæði
2026-06-04 06:56	M1.3	4.9	Önnur svæði
2026-06-04 06:56	M1.1	3.6	Önnur svæði
2026-06-04 03:45	M-1.0	4.0	Önnur svæði
2026-06-03 06:45	M-1.3	0.0	Önnur svæði
2026-06-03 05:37	M-0.2	1.0	Önnur svæði
2026-06-03 05:28	M-0.9	2.4	Önnur svæði
2026-06-03 02:50	M-0.9	4.3	Önnur svæði
2026-06-02 15:56	M0.0	3.7	Önnur svæði
2026-06-02 15:56	M-0.2	4.4	Önnur svæði
2026-06-01 12:19	M-0.5	4.9	Önnur svæði
2026-05-31 16:28	M-0.7	0.0	Önnur svæði
2026-05-30 12:33	M0.3	4.6	Önnur svæði
2026-05-29 21:27	M-0.0	5.1	Önnur svæði
2026-05-28 23:21	M-0.3	1.6	Önnur svæði
2026-05-28 05:03	M0.2	3.4	Önnur svæði
2026-05-27 19:50	M-0.6	0.0	Önnur svæði
2026-05-26 06:58	M-0.4	3.8	Önnur svæði
2026-05-26 00:38	M-0.1	17.7	Önnur svæði
2026-05-26 00:38	M-0.2	17.0	Önnur svæði
2026-05-26 00:38	M-0.6	16.5	Önnur svæði
2026-05-25 12:29	M0.3	3.1	Önnur svæði
2026-05-24 01:07	M0.4	15.1	Önnur svæði
2026-05-23 03:10	M0.9	3.8	Önnur svæði
2026-05-22 04:43	M0.2	10.8	Önnur svæði
2026-05-16 22:26	M0.4	3.0	Önnur svæði
2026-05-13 23:29	M0.1	2.2	Önnur svæði
2026-05-13 16:48	M0.4	2.7	Önnur svæði
2026-05-13 13:19	M0.2	4.3	Önnur svæði
2026-05-10 15:46	M0.6	3.3	Önnur svæði
2026-05-08 11:36	M1.0	3.2	Önnur svæði
2026-05-07 02:51	M0.3	1.1	Önnur svæði
2026-05-05 18:33	M0.6	7.9	Önnur svæði
2026-05-05 17:31	M0.3	16.1	Önnur svæði
2026-05-05 02:06	M0.0	1.0	Önnur svæði
2026-05-04 15:26	M0.4	3.4	Önnur svæði
2026-05-03 05:14	M0.5	2.5	Önnur svæði
2026-05-03 02:17	M0.7	3.7	Önnur svæði
2026-05-02 21:50	M0.1	4.5	Önnur svæði
2026-04-25 04:36	M1.0	5.2	Önnur svæði
2026-04-23 15:15	M0.3	2.5	Önnur svæði
2026-04-23 11:14	M0.3	3.4	Önnur svæði
2026-04-23 07:17	M0.9	3.1	Önnur svæði
2026-04-22 10:04	M0.5	2.9	Önnur svæði
2026-04-22 07:16	M0.0	5.0	Önnur svæði
2026-04-20 20:00	M0.8	1.9	Önnur svæði
2026-04-19 18:51	M1.1	3.4	Önnur svæði

System journal

Automatic snapshots and media coverage, in chronological order. Subscribe: RSS · ntfy skjalftar-askja

Repeated × 2 since 2026-06-09 19:30:04 — last 2026-06-09 23:30:05

2026-06-09 06:25:04 UTC

In the last 24 hours, one earthquake was recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, and activity is decreasing compared to the weekly average. This scattered background activity is within normal levels for the area and most closely resembles the period around August 17, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 41 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, though data are several weeks old and results are automatic preliminary results. Further details on uplift and trends can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-08 23:30:05 UTC

In the last 24 hours, two earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for the area. The seismicity consists mainly of distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 17, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 41 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, though GNSS data are several weeks old. Results are automatic preliminary results, and further details can be found below.

2026-06-08 18:30:04 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The seismicity is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 17, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 41 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, though data are several weeks old and results are automatic preliminary results. Further details on uplift and trends can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-08 06:25:05 UTC

In the last 24 hours, five earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for the area. The seismicity consists mainly of distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around August 17, 2024. Uplift is currently measured faster than the decadal average at approximately 41 mm/year, though GNSS data are several weeks old. Results are automatic preliminary results, and further details are available below.

2026-06-07 23:30:05 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for the area. The seismicity is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around November 7, 2024. Uplift of approximately 40 mm per year is measured by GNSS, which is faster than the decadal average, though the data are several weeks old. These automatic preliminary results are based solely on numerical data, and further details can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-07 18:10:05 UTC

In the last 24 hours, two earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The recent activity consists mainly of distributed background seismicity rather than swarms, while land uplift is measured at approximately 40 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average. These automatic preliminary results most closely resemble the period around December 5, 2024, and further data can be found below.

2026-06-06 22:25:04 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week. This scattered background activity is within normal levels for the area and most closely resembles the period around November 19, 2024. GNSS data, which is several weeks old, indicates land uplift of approximately 40 mm/year, showing faster uplift than the decadal average. These results are automatic preliminary results, and further details can be found below.

2026-06-06 18:15:06 UTC

In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, and an increase above the weekly average indicates rising activity although it remains within normal levels for this area. The activity is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around December 4, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 40 mm per year, which is faster than the decadal average, though GNSS data are several weeks old and results are automatic preliminary results. Further details on trends and uplift can be found lower on the page.

Repeated × 2 since 2026-06-06 01:20:07 — last 2026-06-06 07:00:10

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week. Seismicity remains within normal levels for this area and is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms. GNSS data from recent weeks indicates land uplift of approximately 40 mm/year, which exceeds the decadal average of 21 mm/year. These automatic preliminary results resemble the period around December 9, 2024, and further details are available below.

2026-06-05 22:25:07 UTC

In the last 24 hours, five earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, indicating increasing activity that remains within normal levels for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around December 4, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 39 mm/year, which exceeds the decadal average, although GNSS data are several weeks old. These results are automatic preliminary findings, and further details are available below.

2026-06-05 18:40:11 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The seismicity is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around December 10, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 39 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, though GNSS data are several weeks old and results are automatic preliminary results. Further details on trends and uplift can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-05 07:00:16 UTC

In the last 24 hours, two earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The seismicity consists mainly of distributed background activity rather than swarms, while land uplift is currently measured at approximately 39 mm per year, which is faster than the decadal average. These results are automatic preliminary findings and most closely resemble the period around September 10, 2025; further details are available below.

2026-06-05 01:20:10 UTC

In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, and activity is increasing although it remains within normal levels for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around July 23, 2025. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 39 mm per year, which is faster than the decadal average of 21 mm per year, though GNSS data are several weeks old. These figures are automatic preliminary results, and further details on trends and uplift can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-04 05:40:09 UTC

In the last 24 hours, two earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity similar to the past week and within normal levels for this area. The seismicity represents distributed background activity rather than swarms, and the largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was magnitude M0.0 with a cumulative moment of Mw 0.2. Uplift is measured at approximately 38 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, though GNSS data are several weeks old and results are automatic preliminary results. Activity most closely resembles the period around April 11, 2025, and further details on trends and uplift can be found lower on the page.

2026-06-04 02:55:08 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity increasing compared to the weekly average but remaining within normal levels for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms, and land uplift is measured at approximately 38 mm per year, which is faster than the decadal average of 21 mm. These automatic preliminary results most closely resemble the period around July 7, 2025, and further data are available below.

2026-06-03 05:30:15 UTC

In the last 24 hours, four earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, and an increase above the weekly average indicates rising activity although it remains within normal levels for this area. The increase is primarily due to distributed background seismicity rather than swarms, and land uplift is currently measured at approximately 37 mm per year, which is faster than the decadal average of 21 mm per year. These automatic preliminary results most closely resemble the period around July 6, 2025, with further data on trends and uplift available below.

2026-06-03 02:55:10 UTC

In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded at Askja, a central volcano in Dyngjufjöll, with activity increasing compared to the weekly average but remaining within normal levels for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around November 28, 2024. Uplift is currently measured at approximately 37 mm/year, which is faster than the decadal average, although GNSS data are several weeks old. These results are automatic preliminary results, and further details can be found lower on the page.

What do the numbers mean — and what should I do?

β (swarm signal): how high activity is versus the area's 2-year average. β above 2 means an ongoing swarm. It measures activity, not a forecast of a large quake.

Cumulative moment (Mw): the combined energy of the quakes in the period. Uplift (GNSS): whether the ground is rising or sinking, mm per year — the data are a few weeks old. Some systems (e.g. Svartsengi) deform in steps during eruption cycles rather than at a steady annual rate.

Swarm character is computed for a whole volcanic belt, not a single system — it describes the belt, not necessarily this one system.

What should I do? This is automatic monitoring for information — not an official warning. Follow official information from the Icelandic Met Office and Civil Protection (112).

Data: Icelandic Met Office (Skjálftalísa API), automatic preliminary results — may change. This is not an official warning. Official warnings: vedur.is and Civil Protection (112).