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The Tjörnes Fracture Zone meets with the tectonic drift of the western side of the NS-axis of the North Volcanic Zone of Iceland, connecting it with the Kolbeinsey Ridge.

This shows how adjustments occur during tectonic drift due to the incosistency between the North Volcanic Zone and Kolbeinsey Ridge. West of KR, there is a weaker, but active part of the Tjörnes Fracture Zone. It covers the same convection roll span from east to west as the Borgarfjörður Transverse Zone. Reykjanes and SISZ cover the same convection rolls as the main part of Tjörnes Fracture Zone found east of the Kolbeinsey Ridge. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191814106002653

On this map, the function of shear pressure on the Tjörnes Fracture Zone Area can be seen. The earthquake epicenters follow the convection rolls division lines closely.

To be able to analyze the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, first it has to be realized that it extends from Skagafjörður to Skjálfandi, and in the East and West coincides with two different volcanic zones. The western volcanic zone of the North, Skagafjörður Volcanic Belt, is actually neglected by most geologists, because it is volcanically extinct. Still it exists seismically, as shown here.

Recently, many earthquakes occurred at Reykjanes, and now within the Tjörnes Fracture Zone. Here, the convection rolls division line of Reykjanes is pointed out, to show how it divides the TFZ into two areas, east and west of the line. The earthquakes start on the line, and then start spreading along the Kolbeinsey Ridge.

Here I point out: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2000TC900022

The earthquakes within Tjörnes Fracture Zone are aligned paralell to the convection rolls of polar system.

This can be compared with the convection rolls map:

https://www.vedur.is/skjalftar-og-eldgos/jardskjalftar/tjornesbrot_stort/

The earthquakes started mainly within the First Polygon, but then spread northwards along the central NS-axis of the Second Polygon shown on the picture above.

Also, it is interesting to see how the earthquakes spread north of Skagafjörður, the old volcanic zone, which has been volcanically extinct for a few hundred thousand years, but is still seismically and geothermally active.

Analyzing the convection within Earth’s mantle is actually very easy. The layers of Earth have been measured, and each of them is a layer of convection. Physics tell us convection of the mantle should be in the form of convection rolls. The shape of the rolls must be in accordance with the shape of the Earth. Thereby we know the basics, and can make use of our knowlegde, understanding the geology better.

Between the large scale rolls and the tectonic plates, there are two layers. Also, there is a special system for the poles, and a system extending from equator. These system intersect each other, forming a transition zone. The central axis of transition zone is 64°N. The picture above shows the central axis of 64°N. Therefore, there are 4 layers found between the large scale rolls and the tectonic plates.

The two layers from south become the lower convection rolls. The polar system is composed of the upper more convection rolls of the transition zone.

We are so lucky that the weather system follows the same rule. So those who have studied meteorolgy might see the analogy. here. Southern winds along the ground rise and head back. Northern winds also rise and find their way back. The result of the transition is also four layers, exactly at the same latitudes.

The Reykjanes Ridge is mainly shaped by the equatorial system of convection rolls, but the direction shifts when the polar convection rolls system takes over within the transition zone at the latitudes where Icealnd is located.

It must be remembered, that the main division line is actually 1.5° farther to the East, where the division between large lower mantle convection rolls is found.