Ljósufjöll
Seismicity by period · derived statistics from Skjálftalísa (Icelandic Met Office)
Status (automatic)
In the last 24 hours, 3 earthquakes were measured in the Ljósufjöll system, which is a volcanic system in eastern Snæfellsnes. The activity is similar to the past week but slightly higher than usual for this area. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M1.2, and the cumulative magnitude of the earthquakes was Mw 1.4. The activity is mostly diffuse background activity rather than swarms, similar to the period around December 24, 2025. These are automatic preliminary results. Volcano is in normal, non-eruptive state.
VONA = Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation; the official Met Office colour code for aviation. Independent of Skjálfti's automatic analysis.
🕰️ Last eruption / event — ~1067 years ago
Rauðhálsahraun (around 960) (~960). The only eruption in the Snæfellsnes belt in recorded Icelandic history — a basaltic eruption around 960 AD that produced the roughly 13 km² Rauðhálsahraun lava field. The system has erupted about every 400 years during the Holocene.
Volcanic system on the eastern Snæfellsnes Peninsula (~90 km long, WNW–ESE). Last erupted around 960 AD. Increased seismicity and likely deep magma accumulation at 15–20 km depth near Grjótárvatn in 2024–2025; the Met Office raised the monitoring level. (overview — more at vedur.is) · circle on the map = rough outline of the system (radius).
📜 Did you know?
Berserkjahraun (~960 AD) is mentioned in Eyrbyggja saga (chapter 28) — the Swedish berserkers Halli and Leiknir were made to clear a path through the lava and were then killed by Víga-Styr. The track is still visible. Increased seismicity and likely magma accumulation at 18-25 km depth near Grjótárvatn in 2024-2025 — the Met Office raised the monitoring level.
Historical eruptions in the system — points colored by size, blue circle shows where we are now in time.
Points = earthquake locations in the selected window, coloured by magnitude: M3+ · M2+ · smaller (a sample if more than 800).
Earthquakes
3
Largest
M1.0
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–18 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 3 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.2 · 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
3
Largest
M1.0
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–18 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 3 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.2 · 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
15
Largest
M1.5
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–21 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 15 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
74
Largest
M1.5
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–24 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 74 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.0 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top) — shallowing in the data (18.0→16.3 km). 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
319
Largest
M2.1
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–24 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 319 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.
Earthquakes
774
Largest
M2.1
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 774 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.8 · 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
1830
Largest
M3.1
M3,0+
3
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 1830 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M3.6 · 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.
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.33 ± 0.17 (i.e. likely 1.16–1.51, M≥1.7, n=70)
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
4599
Largest
M3.6
M3,0+
6
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 4599 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M4.0 · 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.
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.52 ± 0.09 (i.e. likely 1.43–1.61, M≥1.7, n=308)
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
4.891
Largest
M3.6
M3.0+
8
Days with data
814
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 4.1
Magnitude distribution
<11978
1–21655
2–3138
3–48
≥40
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.44 ± 0.07 (i.e. likely 1.37–1.51, M≥1.7, n=410)
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
4.962
Largest
M3.6
M3.0+
10
Days with data
852
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 4.1
Magnitude distribution
<11986
1–21700
2–3154
3–410
≥40
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.39 ± 0.06 (i.e. likely 1.32–1.45, M≥1.7, n=443)
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
4.974
Largest
M3.6
M3.0+
10
Days with data
859
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 4.1
Magnitude distribution
<11987
1–21710
2–3155
3–410
≥40
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.39 ± 0.06 (i.e. likely 1.32–1.45, M≥1.7, n=444)
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
5.130
Largest
M5.0
M3.0+
11
Days with data
988
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 5.0
Magnitude distribution
<11989
1–21805
2–3213
3–410
≥41
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.28 ± 0.05 (i.e. likely 1.23–1.34, M≥1.7, n=544)
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.
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.
Earthquakes in the system
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Depth (km) | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-11 11:54 | M0.8 | 18.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-11 06:20 | M1.0 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-11 00:39 | M0.8 | 7.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-09 15:14 | M1.2 | 20.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-09 03:05 | M1.5 | 15.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 15:17 | M0.4 | 1.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 07:15 | M-0.0 | 14.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-07 21:11 | M1.2 | 18.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-07 18:57 | M0.9 | 17.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-07 18:57 | M0.8 | 18.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-07 18:55 | M0.8 | 10.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-07 18:54 | M0.6 | 14.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-06 10:33 | M-0.4 | 13.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-05 05:10 | M0.8 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 21:56 | M0.3 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 17:08 | M-0.0 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 04:56 | M-1.2 | 18.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 03:48 | M-0.2 | 15.6 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 03:47 | M0.2 | 17.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 01:51 | M0.0 | 19.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-03 16:21 | M1.0 | 18.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 22:16 | M1.0 | 16.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 22:15 | M1.0 | 15.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 09:42 | M0.1 | 14.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 08:49 | M0.0 | 20.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-01 11:25 | M-0.2 | 17.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 08:20 | M0.0 | 18.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 06:53 | M0.4 | 18.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 04:31 | M-0.3 | 20.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-30 12:04 | M-0.4 | 18.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-30 12:01 | M-0.3 | 16.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-29 16:23 | M0.7 | 16.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-29 07:56 | M0.4 | 23.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 22:51 | M-0.6 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 22:34 | M-0.8 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 13:36 | M1.2 | 15.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 03:56 | M0.7 | 15.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 03:47 | M0.9 | 14.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 02:22 | M0.8 | 18.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 00:29 | M-0.0 | 19.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 18:17 | M-0.4 | 18.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 10:56 | M0.3 | 15.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 10:54 | M0.9 | 16.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 10:50 | M0.4 | 18.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-23 19:53 | M-0.2 | 17.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-23 16:25 | M1.3 | 20.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-21 11:31 | M0.3 | 18.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-21 07:07 | M-0.2 | 13.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-21 02:41 | M-0.1 | 16.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-20 16:26 | M-0.2 | 17.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-20 16:02 | M-0.4 | 18.6 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-20 11:03 | M-0.7 | 9.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-19 22:53 | M-0.9 | 18.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-19 00:04 | M-0.8 | 17.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-18 23:08 | M0.7 | 8.6 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-18 21:07 | M-0.1 | 5.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-18 17:50 | M0.1 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-18 07:29 | M-0.8 | 17.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-18 02:49 | M-0.3 | 19.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-17 12:11 | M-0.2 | 18.0 | Other areas |
System journal
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skjalftar-ljosufjoll2026-09-11 11:55:02 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 3 earthquakes were measured in the Ljósufjöll system, which is a volcanic system in eastern Snæfellsnes. The activity is similar to the past week and is within what is normal for this area, with a 2-year daily average of 5.3 earthquakes per day. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M1.2 and the cumulative magnitude of the earthquakes was Mw 1.4. The activity is characterized by diffuse background activity rather than swarms, with 93% of events in the last 7 days being independent. These results are automatic preliminary results.2026-09-08 07:20:02 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 6 earthquakes were measured in the Ljósufjöll system, which is a volcanic system in eastern Snæfellsnes. This represents an increase in activity, as the last 24-hour period is well above the weekly average (3 earthquakes per day). The activity is slightly higher than usual for this area, with 5 earthquakes in the last 24 hours compared to an average of 5.3 per day, and is mostly diffuse background activity rather than swarms. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M1.0, and the cumulative magnitude of earthquakes during the same period was Mw 1.1. These results are automatic preliminary results.2026-09-07 21:15:02 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 5 earthquakes were measured in the Ljósufjöll system, which is a volcanic system in eastern Snæfellsnes. This is considerably more activity than the weekly average of 3 earthquakes per day, and the monthly average, which is also 3 earthquakes per day, indicating that activity is increasing. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M1.0. The activity is slightly higher than usual for this area, with a β-value of 0.0 and 5 earthquakes in the last 24 hours compared to an average of 5.3 earthquakes per day. The cumulative magnitude of earthquakes in the last 48 hours was Mw 1.1. The seismic activity is mostly diffuse background activity rather than swarms, with 83% of events in the last 7 days being independent. These results are automatic preliminary results. The activity most resembles a period around June 30, 2026, when 19 earthquakes were measured. Further information2026-09-07 19:00:03 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 4 earthquakes were measured in the Ljósufjöll system, which is a volcanic system in eastern Snæfellsnes. The activity is similar to that of the past week, but it is within what is normal for this area. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M0.5 in magnitude, and the cumulative moment of the earthquakes was Mw 0.8. The activity is mostly diffuse background activity rather than swarms, and most closely resembles a period around July 4, 2026. These are automatic preliminary results.2026-05-30 08:47:03 UTC
In the last 24 hours, three earthquakes were recorded in the Ljósufjöll system, representing an increase above the weekly average and unusual activity for this area. The activity is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and most closely resembles the period around October 22, 2024. These automatic preliminary results show that the largest earthquake in the past 48 hours was M1.4 with a cumulative magnitude of Mw 1.5. Further details on trends and measurements are available below.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).