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Current rifting episode in north Iceland

Abstract

A major rifting episode is now occurring in north Iceland. This started on 20 December 1975, with a basaltic eruption, an exceptionally intense earthquake swarm and movement on an 80-km segment of the plate boundary. Inflation and deflation of the Krafla caldera indicate upwelling of magma and injection into the rift zone. Historical records show that similar episodic rifting occurs in this region every 100–150 yr.

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Björnsson, A., Saemundsson, K., Einarsson, P. et al. Current rifting episode in north Iceland. Nature 266, 318–323 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266318a0

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