On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland

Abstract Grabens, or valleys formed during extensional tectonic events, are common but rarely observed during formation. In November 2023, inelastic surface deformation formed abruptly along Iceland's plate boundary in Grindavík. We documented graben formation in real‐time through satellite map...

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Main Authors: Gregory P. DePascale, Tomáš J. Fischer, William Michael Moreland, Halldór Geirsson, Pavla Hrubcová, Vincent Drouin, Danielle Forester, Méline Payet‐‐Clerc, Diana Brum daSilveira, Josef Vlček, Benedikt G. Ófeigsson, Ármann Höskuldsson, Helga Kristín Torfadóttir, Iðunn Kara Valdimarsdóttir, Birta Dís Jónsdóttir Blöndal, Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Sigurjón Jónsson, Thor Thordarson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110150
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author Gregory P. DePascale
Tomáš J. Fischer
William Michael Moreland
Halldór Geirsson
Pavla Hrubcová
Vincent Drouin
Danielle Forester
Méline Payet‐‐Clerc
Diana Brum daSilveira
Josef Vlček
Benedikt G. Ófeigsson
Ármann Höskuldsson
Helga Kristín Torfadóttir
Iðunn Kara Valdimarsdóttir
Birta Dís Jónsdóttir Blöndal
Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir
Sigurjón Jónsson
Thor Thordarson
author_facet Gregory P. DePascale
Tomáš J. Fischer
William Michael Moreland
Halldór Geirsson
Pavla Hrubcová
Vincent Drouin
Danielle Forester
Méline Payet‐‐Clerc
Diana Brum daSilveira
Josef Vlček
Benedikt G. Ófeigsson
Ármann Höskuldsson
Helga Kristín Torfadóttir
Iðunn Kara Valdimarsdóttir
Birta Dís Jónsdóttir Blöndal
Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir
Sigurjón Jónsson
Thor Thordarson
author_sort Gregory P. DePascale
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Grabens, or valleys formed during extensional tectonic events, are common but rarely observed during formation. In November 2023, inelastic surface deformation formed abruptly along Iceland's plate boundary in Grindavík. We documented graben formation in real‐time through satellite mapping (InSAR), seismicity, GNSS data, repeated lidar surveys, and field mapping. Five normal faults and ∼12 fissures ruptured the surface delineating two grabens separated by a horst, a context not present in other contemporary case studies. The graben normal faults slipped rapidly (over hours) and maximum surface motions coincided with the occurrence of turbulent seismic swarms in both space and time. Although 3 eruptions took place ∼15 km northeast of Grindavík from 2021 to 2023, attributed to magma intrusions (i.e., dikes), none of these also formed grabens. Thus, the Grindavík grabens shows evidence for tectonic origins. Real‐time monitoring of these phenomena provide insight into graben formation on Earth and potentially on other planets.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-07-01
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record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-5cda169356be4b4bb8975b3c34e32db22025-08-20T03:49:46ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-07-015114n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110150On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, IcelandGregory P. DePascale0Tomáš J. Fischer1William Michael Moreland2Halldór Geirsson3Pavla Hrubcová4Vincent Drouin5Danielle Forester6Méline Payet‐‐Clerc7Diana Brum daSilveira8Josef Vlček9Benedikt G. Ófeigsson10Ármann Höskuldsson11Helga Kristín Torfadóttir12Iðunn Kara Valdimarsdóttir13Birta Dís Jónsdóttir Blöndal14Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir15Sigurjón Jónsson16Thor Thordarson17Faculty of Earth Sciences Institute of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Science Charles University Prague CzechiaFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandInstitute of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandInstitute of Geophysics Czech Academy of Sciences Prague CzechiaIcelandic Meteorological Office Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Science Charles University Prague CzechiaIcelandic Meteorological Office Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandPhysical Science and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Earth Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik IcelandAbstract Grabens, or valleys formed during extensional tectonic events, are common but rarely observed during formation. In November 2023, inelastic surface deformation formed abruptly along Iceland's plate boundary in Grindavík. We documented graben formation in real‐time through satellite mapping (InSAR), seismicity, GNSS data, repeated lidar surveys, and field mapping. Five normal faults and ∼12 fissures ruptured the surface delineating two grabens separated by a horst, a context not present in other contemporary case studies. The graben normal faults slipped rapidly (over hours) and maximum surface motions coincided with the occurrence of turbulent seismic swarms in both space and time. Although 3 eruptions took place ∼15 km northeast of Grindavík from 2021 to 2023, attributed to magma intrusions (i.e., dikes), none of these also formed grabens. Thus, the Grindavík grabens shows evidence for tectonic origins. Real‐time monitoring of these phenomena provide insight into graben formation on Earth and potentially on other planets.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110150Icelandgraben formationplate boundarytectonicsreykjanes peninsulaearthquakes
spellingShingle Gregory P. DePascale
Tomáš J. Fischer
William Michael Moreland
Halldór Geirsson
Pavla Hrubcová
Vincent Drouin
Danielle Forester
Méline Payet‐‐Clerc
Diana Brum daSilveira
Josef Vlček
Benedikt G. Ófeigsson
Ármann Höskuldsson
Helga Kristín Torfadóttir
Iðunn Kara Valdimarsdóttir
Birta Dís Jónsdóttir Blöndal
Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir
Sigurjón Jónsson
Thor Thordarson
On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
Geophysical Research Letters
Iceland
graben formation
plate boundary
tectonics
reykjanes peninsula
earthquakes
title On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
title_full On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
title_fullStr On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
title_full_unstemmed On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
title_short On the Move: 2023 Observations on Real Time Graben Formation, Grindavík, Iceland
title_sort on the move 2023 observations on real time graben formation grindavik iceland
topic Iceland
graben formation
plate boundary
tectonics
reykjanes peninsula
earthquakes
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110150
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