Detailed distribution of microearthquakes along the northern Reykjanes Ridge, off SW‐Iceland

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Abstract
We have obtained a snapshot image of the earthquake activity along the northern Reykjanes Ridge (RR) using a dense ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) array. The earthquakes are narrowly concentrated along the NE‐SW trending ridge crest. The seismicity is segmented into clusters by the en‐echelon NNE‐SSW trending axial volcanic systems which characterize the obliquely spreading ridge. The hypocenters are concentrated at somewhat greater depths (3–7 km) than on the Reykjanes Peninsula (RP), where the crust is thicker. Normal faulting dominates at the ridge crest. The focal planes are oriented more NE‐SW than NNE‐SSW, i.e., parallel to the ridge crest and its peripheral faults rather than the trend of individual axial volcanic systems and associated faults.