Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions Driven by Magma Solitons
- Caden Lin,
- Bjorn Birnir
Abstract
A magma soliton is used to compute the timing of earthquakes on the
Reykjanes ridge, in Iceland, and the occurrence and duration of the
volcanic eruption in Geldingadalir by Fagradalsfjall, in February 2021.
The velocity of the magma soliton is computed using earthquakes observed
underwater on the Reykjanes ridge in November 2019 and earthquakes that
occurred by Fagradalsfjall in October 2020. This velocity also
determines the shape, height and spatial extent, of the magma soliton.
The volume of lava in the Geldingadalur-Fagradalsfjall eruption is
computed, depending of the width of the magma soliton, and compared to
measurements. The timing of subsequent earthquake clusters is then
predicted, caused by the magma soliton passing by the remining three
volcanic zones on the Reykjanes peninsula.