Iceland Is About To Explode (maybe)

[flatandy]

There's been a massive, and increasing, amount of seismic activity in western Iceland over the last few days. They thought it was bad 2 or three days ago. They could see seismic uplift.

But today there was a Mag 5 quake and the cluster of quakes along the fault line is incredible. They say that something like 25,000 quakes greater than mag 2, 300 greater than mag 3, in total in the current cluster.

It's all around the fancy Blue Lagoon tourist spot on the Reykjanes peninsula, not far from Reykjavik and very close to the airport. They've shut the Blue Lagoon, but the geothermal plant next door is at risk.

There've been a handful of smallish volcanoes on Reykjanes over the last few years, so another one would be no surprise. The earthquake swarm, though, could presage something bigger coming up. Not, probably, catastrophic like it will be when Katla erupts next (also should be soon), but who knows. And while the swarm is centered between the town of Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon, there are now a bunch of quakes covering a lot more of the western park of the country.

www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/11/10/reykjanes-iceland-volcano-earthquakes-fagradalsfjall/

[voice]

I was there yesterday, no rumbling I could tell

[flatandy]

Did you get out of the airport, or just change planes there? If it does all kick off you might have trouble getting back.

[voice]

Was there to swap planes, spending a couple of days proper on the way back.

Well if it's still there like

[Repat Van]

It better not disappear - it’s on my bucket list for next year.

[flatandy]

I went earlier this year on the way through to Italy. It's stunning, but the weather doesn't always play nice. Strangely I've had three groups of friends (four now, if Voice counts, but three actual human ones rather than dyslexic chatbots) visit in the last month. Everyone's had fantastic photos of auroras. And obviously waterfalls and geysers. But they all look really f**k**g cold and there appears to be permanent ice underfoot so everyone is walking very carefully. I maybe didn't get to see the northern lights but I still think I prefer summer.

Particularly as one group, out on a 50th birthday trip on which we were invited, is still there and might not be able to get back to the airport and fly home - the certainly wouldn't be allowed to take the road we took to the airport through Grindavik because that's been evacuated now.

[Repat Van]

Nov 11, 2023 13:30:44 GMT flatandy said:

I went earlier this year on the way through to Italy. It's stunning, but the weather doesn't always play nice. Strangely I've had three groups of friends (four now, if Voice counts, but three actual human ones rather than dyslexic chatbots) visit in the last month. Everyone's had fantastic photos of auroras. And obviously waterfalls and geysers. But they all look really f**k**g cold and there appears to be permanent ice underfoot so everyone is walking very carefully. I maybe didn't get to see the northern lights but I still think I prefer summer.

Particularly as one group, out on a 50th birthday trip on which we were invited, is still there and might not be able to get back to the airport and fly home - the certainly wouldn't be allowed to take the road we took to the airport through Grindavik because that's been evacuated now.

I’m in England. I think I am more than used to “the weather not playing nice” by now!

[perrykneeham]

Just been for a lovely walk along the seafront at Brighton in the glorious sunshine. In shirtsleeves.

[perrykneeham]

I saw a seal there a couple of weeks ago. Bold as brass!

[mids]

It's been a cracking day here. Chilly and bright, bright sunshine.

[flatandy]

Beautiful day here, too. No volcanoes or earthquakes. Started off about cold, I'd guess at 5C, particularly in the first part of the bike ride down through the gorge where the cold air had pooled. My hands were actually in pain from the cold and I probably should have worn more clothes. 75 miles later, though, I still hadn't seen a cloud, but it had got a lot warmer, probably somewhere between 25 and 30. Lovely

[Repat Van]

Miserable day here.

It’s freezing.