Recent seismic activity has caught the attention of volcanologists. In June 2010, Hazel Rymer, a volcano expert, noted an increase in earthquake activity at Askja, and in early April 2012, the lake in the caldera cleared of ice unusually early due to heightened geothermal activity. This led to travel restrictions until further research could be conducted.
By early September 2021, GPS and satellite data revealed inflation of the caldera at a rate of five cm per month, possibly indicating magma intrusion. The Icelandic Meteorological Office upgraded the Aviation Color Code to “Yellow” in response to the changes and announced plans to enhance the monitoring network around Askja for better surveillance.