Askja volcano, Central Iceland: news & activity updates
Updated: Jul 6, 2022 20:58 GMT - Refresh
Tue, 21 Jun 2022, 19:55
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) instruments detected continuing expansion that began in early August last year. Read allFri, 17 Sep 2021, 08:45
There is NO ERUPTION Read allShow more
Thu, 9 Sep 2021, 19:57
IMO has now raised Askja to Yellow status as the rapid deformation of the caldera is continuing and has now reached 7 cm in just six weeks. Rising magma is also only at 2-3 km depth, so the possibility of an eruption in the near-term is increased.Wed, 8 Sep 2021, 06:00
On 9 September IMO raised the Aviation Color Code for Askja to Yellow, noting that inflation that began in early August was ongoing and notably rapid. The uplift was centered at the W edge of Oskjuvatn caldera, which rose a total of 7 cm. The data suggested that magma was accumulating at 2-3.5 km depth. Read allWed, 8 Sep 2021, 05:02

The image depicts the near-vertical deformation in mm for the period 1-21 August. The InSAR image is obtained from two passages of Sentinel-1 satellite. The red color indicates uplift and the blue corresponds to subsidence (see the scale). The area experiencing the highest inflation is north-west Öskjuvatn. The black triangle indicates the location of the closest GPS station Ólafsgíga (OLAC) (image: IMO)
Wed, 1 Sep 2021, 06:00
On 3 September IMO reported that inflation at Askja had begun in early August based on ground deformation data derived from satellite images and continuous GPS data. The uplift was centered at the W edge of Oskjuvatn caldera and vertically deformed at a rate of about 5 cm per month. Data indicated that the source of the inflation was at a depth of about 3 km and caused a volume change of about .01 cubic kilometers per month; the source was unknown, though most likely was caused by an influx of magma. Read allMon, 11 Nov 2019, 07:35
An swarm of earthquakes is occurring near the Askja caldera, in an area approx. 10 km ENE from the rim and at depths around 5 km. Read allMon, 12 Oct 2015, 09:21
A shallow earthquake swarm has been occurring 25 km NE of the Aksja caldera since Thursday. Read allWed, 10 Sep 2014, 06:00
IMO had maintained the Aviation Colour Code for Askja at Yellow since 28 August due to elevated seismicity and localized deformation. On 11 September the Colour Code was reduced to Green when seismicity had diminished significantly. Read allWed, 23 Jul 2014, 14:45
A large landslide occurred from the southern wall of the Askja caldera yesterday night. The slide caused a large flood wave in the Öskjuvatn lake that also swept into the famous Viti crater. Read allShow more
Sat, 3 May 2014, 16:08
A swarm of shallow earthquakes at 2-10 km depth has started under the Herðubreið volcano about 12 km NE of the Askja caldera. The largest earthquakes so far were 2 magnitude 3.2 and 3.0 events. Read allFri, 22 Nov 2013, 11:07
A small swarm of earthquakes has occurred today under the eastern caldera rim. Another minor swarm took place yesterday under Þórðarhyrna volcano 20 km to the NE.Wed, 27 Mar 2013, 16:29
Small earthquakes have also been more frequent under and near the Askja caldera and Bardabunga volcano (to the SW of Askja) in the past few days.Sun, 10 Mar 2013, 14:59
A swarm of earthquakes at shallow depths, mostly around 2-5 km has been occurring in an area about 12 km NE of the caldera. 27 quakes including 6 between magnitudes 2.1-2.7 were recorded yesterday.Thu, 21 Feb 2013, 17:50
Another swarm of quakes has been going on in a SW-NE trending area under and SW of the caldera.Fri, 14 Dec 2012, 11:05
A small swarm of earthquakes has started today about 10 km west of the Askja caldera. The quakes are at 20-25 km depth.Fri, 2 Nov 2012, 08:08
During the past days, an increased number of earthquakes occurred in an area east of the Askja caldera. The corresponding tremor signal has been rising as well, although these levels seem not to be alarming.Wed, 26 Sep 2012, 08:25
An increased number of earthquakes can be noted beneath Askja volcano during recent weeks. A shallow M2 quake occurred early this morning at 07:29 GMT.Fri, 10 Aug 2012, 09:02
Askja volcano in Iceland shows increased signs of unrest including higher than background levels of tremor, as Diana Barnes remarked on VolcanoCafe.
Wed, 16 May 2012, 16:15
A small seismic swarm occurred on 14-15 May near the Askja caldera in central Iceland, just southwest of Herðubreið volcano. Read allWed, 4 Apr 2012, 20:11
Some news has appeared about a sudden warming of the Askja volcano caldera lake. It seems that a melt of ice in the caldera lake started in the beginning of March and by the end of March, the lake was completely ice free. Read all