The likelihood of a potential volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula is gradually decreasing.
Despite the waning trend in the frequency of earthquakes over the past 24 hours, there are still magma movements at very shallow levels in the dike intrusion.
The most probable explanation for this is a lack or even no magma within the magma chamber. It’s unclear now how long it’ll take to refill it by magma again. Following the latest statistics, no tension has been detected in the elongated, flat-shaped body, known as sill, indicating a refilling within a few weeks to months. This is stated by Benedikts Gunnar Ófeigsson, head of deformation measurements at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, as interviewed for mbl.is.
It is not ruled out that an eruption may commence even at decreased seismic activity, although this is less likely.
What is worth mentioning here is that actually diminished or even halted earthquake activity preceded previous 2021-2023 eruptions and might be considered as tell-tale sign of an impending eruption.
Ófeigsson points out that it is too soon to conclude and confirm a low possibility of an eruption on the peninsula.
Source: mbl.is 21 November