DOCSLIB.ORG

Icelandiceland Fieldfield Guideguide

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Icelandiceland Fieldfield Guideguide IcelandIceland fieldfield guideguide DEES Graduate Student Field Trip August 2010 © Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University 2010 Prepared by Natalia Zakharova Edited by Jason Jweda and Margaret Reitz Front page photo: Fjallsjökull glacial tongue, Vatnajökull ice cap (credit N. Zakahrova) 2 Table of Contents: PREFACE .............................................................................................................................................................4 TRIP ITINERARY ..............................................................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................7 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ICELAND........................................................................................................7 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................8 GEOLOGIC OVERVIEWS .............................................................................................................................10 RIDGE-HOTSPOT INTERACTION – THE ORIGIN OF ICELAND..........................................................................10 SEISMICITY .......................................................................................................................................................13 PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY ..................................................................................................................15 VOLCANISM......................................................................................................................................................19 GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATION...............................................................................................................25 CO2 SEQUESTRATION ......................................................................................................................................26 GLACIOLOGY....................................................................................................................................................28 GLACIERS AND JÖKULHLAUPS ........................................................................................................................31 POST-GLACIAL REBOUND ................................................................................................................................33 CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...................................................................................................................35 ICELAND ECOLOGY..........................................................................................................................................37 DETAILED ITINERARY AND DESCRIPTIONS OF VISITED SITES ................................................40 DAY 0 (WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18TH)..............................................................................................................40 DAY 1 (THURSDAY, AUGUST 19TH) - REYKJANES PENINSULA ......................................................................40 DAY 2 (FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH) - HELLISHEIÐI POWER PLANT AND ÞINGVELLIR ........................................43 DAY 3 (SATURDAY, AUGUST 21TH) – GEYSIR AND GULLFOSS......................................................................49 DAY 4 (SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND) – HIKE TO EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL.................................................................53 DAY 5 (MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD) – GLACIAL HIKE IN SKAFTAFELL .............................................................56 DAY 6 (TUESDAY, AUGUST 24ND) – SKAFTAFELL GLACIER TOUR WITH HELGI BJÖRNSSON ..................................60 DAY 7 (WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25TH) – EASTERN ICELAND ..........................................................................63 DAY 8 (THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH) - LAKE MÝVATN ....................................................................................67 DAY 9 (FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH) - DRIVE TO REYKJAVÍK VIA KJÖLUR (500 KM) .........................................72 DAY 10 (SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH) - REYKJAVÍK...........................................................................................75 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................................77 TRIP PARTICIPANTS.....................................................................................................................................78 TRIP COSTS ......................................................................................................................................................80 CAMP SITES INFORMATION......................................................................................................................81 MENUS AND FOOD BUDGET ......................................................................................................................82 DAILY MENU FOR 20 PEOPLE ..........................................................................................................................82 BUDGET ............................................................................................................................................................83 COOKING EQUIPMENT......................................................................................................................................83 SUGGESTED PACKING LIST ......................................................................................................................84 AFTERWORD....................................................................................................................................................86 3 Preface Iceland is a unique place to study a great variety of geologic and climate-driven processes, and to observe how interactions between these processes create unusual and diverse environments. High rates of volcanic activity, crustal deformation, rapid erosion, interplay of glacial and volcanic forces, and dramatic climate effects make Iceland an attractive destination for a wide range of Earth scientists. This guide is based on the Columbia University graduate student field trip to Iceland in August 2010 (Fig. 1). It was made possible by the Storke Memorial Fund, designated to support educational activities at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University. The participants on this trip consisted of Ph.D. students in the Earth and Environmental Sciences and Master students from the Climate and Society Program. This group of students represented a full spectrum of sub-disciplines, which allowed us to cover a wide variety of scientific topics including geophysics, tectonics, seismicity, volcanism, petrology, geothermal power generation and carbon sequestration, glaciology, climate and ecology as well as how these have shaped Icelandic culture and history. A student-led seminar series based on extensive literature reviews was a critical component of the preparation for this field trip. Each of the participants presented a topic of interest to the rest of the group. The seminar laid a good foundation for our field studies and helped to foster the discussion of various features and phenomena we observed in the field. The seminar also provided a basis for general overviews included in this guide. This guide summarizes the amazing field experience and the information we learned before, during, and after the trip. In addition to the broad overviews of Icelandic geology, ecology, etc., the guide also contains detailed day itineraries, trip expenses, and dinner menus. We hope that this will be useful in planning future trips to wonderful and beautiful country of Iceland. 4 Trip Itinerary DAY 1 - August 19th, 2010: - Arriving to Keflavík early in the morning - Exploring Reykjanestá - Visiting Blue Lagoon - Camping in Reykjavík DAY 2 - August 20th, 2010: - Exploring Hellisheiði power plant and CO2 sequestration site - Hiking Raufarhólshellir lava tube - Exploring Þingvellir National Park and camping there DAY 3 - August 21st, 2010: - Visiting Geysir and Gulfoss - Driving to Eyjafjallajokull and camping in Thosmork DAY 4 - August 22nd, 2010: - Long hike to Eyjafjallajökull - Driving to Skaftafell and camping DAY 5 - August 23rd, 2010: - Glacial hike on Öræfajökull - Short hike to Svartifoss - Camping in Skaftafell DAY 6 - August 24th, 2010: - Visit Jökulsarlón glacial lagoon - Explore glacial features of Skaftafell - Camping in Skaftafell DAY 7 - August 25th, 2010: - Driving through eastern Iceland (fjords) - Stop at Petra mineral museum - Arriving to Mývatn and camping there DAY 8 - August 26th, 2010: - Exploring Krafla caldera and Leirhujukur geothermal vents - Hiking in Dimmuborgir lava lake - Hiking up the Hverfjall tephra cone - Bathing in Mývatn Nature Baths - Camping by Mývatn DAY 9 - August 27th, 2010: 5 - Transfer to Reykjavík - driving through central Iceland - Stop in Akureyri - Stop at Goðafoss - Stop at Kjölur hot springs - Camping in Reykjavík DAY 10 - August 28th, 2010: - Exploring Reykjavík - Flying home in the afternoon Figure 1. Schematic route of the trip and major sites visited. 6 Introduction General information about Iceland Contributed by Nevin Singh Iceland is located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, between latitudes 63⁰24’N and 66⁰33’N and between longitudes 13⁰30’W and 24⁰32’W.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Glacial Rebound and Plate Spreading: Results from the First Countrywide GPS Observations in Iceland
    Geophys. J. Int. (2009) 177, 691–716 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.04059.x Glacial rebound and plate spreading: results from the first countrywide GPS observations in Iceland ∗ T. Arnad´ ottir,´ 1 B. Lund,2 W. Jiang,1 H. Geirsson,3 H. Bjornsson,¨ 4 P. Einarsson4 and T. Sigurdsson5 1Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjav´ık, Iceland. E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavagen¨ 16, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden 3Physics Department, Icelandic Meteorological Office, Reykjav´ık, Iceland 4Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjav´ık, Iceland 5National Land Survey of Iceland, Akranes, Iceland Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/gji/article/177/2/691/2023257 by guest on 30 September 2021 Accepted 2008 December 10. Received 2008 December 5; in original form 2008 June 12 SUMMARY Iceland is one of the few places on Earth where a divergent plate boundary can be observed on land. Direct observations of crustal deformation for the whole country are available for the first time from nationwide Global Positioning System (GPS) campaigns in 1993 and 2004. The plate spreading across the island is imaged by the horizontal velocity field and high uplift rates (≥10 mm yr−1) are observed over a large part of central and southeastern Iceland. Several earthquakes, volcanic intrusions and eruptions occurred during the time spanned by the measurements, causing local disturbances of the deformation field. After correcting for the largest earthquakes during the observation period, we calculate the strain rate field and find that the main feature of the field is the extension across the rift zones, subparallel to the direction of plate motion.
    [Show full text]
  • Classification of Icelandic Watersheds and Rivers to Explain Life History Strategies of Atlantic Salmon
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Siaurdur Gudjonsson for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries Science presented on May 17, 1990. Title: Classification of Icelandic Watersheds and Rivers to Explain Life History Strategies of Atlantic Salmon Abstract approved: 4 Redacted for Privacy Charles E. Warren A hierarchical classification system of Iceland's watersheds and rivers is presented. The classification is based on Iceland's substrate, climate, water, biota, and human cultural influences. The geological formations of Iceland are very different in character depending on their age and formation history. Three major types of formations occur: Tertiary, Plio-Pleistocene, and Pleistocene. These formations have different hydrological characters and different landscapes. There are also large differences in the climate within Iceland. Four major river types are found in Iceland: spring-fed rivers in Pleistocene areas, direct runoff rivers in Plio-Pleistocene areas, direct runoff rivers in Tertiary areas and wetland heath rivers in Tertiary areas. Eleven biogeoclimatic regions occur in Iceland, each having a different watershed type. The classification together with life history theory can explain the distributions, abundances, and life history strategies of Icelandic salmonids. Oceanic conditions must also be considered to explain the life history patterns of anadromous populations. When the freshwater and marine habitat is stable, the life history patterns of individuals in a population tend to be uniform, one life history form being most common. In an unstable environment many life history forms occur and the life span of one generation is long. The properties of the habitat can further explain which life history types are present.
    [Show full text]
  • Oaklands School Geography Department - Iceland Trip 2019
    Oaklands School Geography Department - Iceland Trip 2019 Skogafoss Waterfall Name: __________________________________ Tutor Group: _____________________________ 1 Part A: Where is Iceland? Iceland is an island formerly belonging to Denmark. It has been a Republic since 1944 and is found in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. We will fly to Keflavik and stay near Hvolsvollur in the SW of the island. The map above is an enlargement of the box drawn on the map of Iceland below left. Map area on next Clearly, we are only visiting a small section of page the island, but in this small area you will be blown away by what you will see. Perhaps your visit to the island will prompt you to come back to explore further in the future? 2 Part B: History of Iceland Iceland is only about 20 million years old! It was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions at the Mid- Atlantic ridge. In fact the plume of magma called the Iceland ‘Hot Spot’ is responsible for its continued existence and almost continuous volcanic activity. Exact dates for first human occupancy is uncertain, but the accepted date is 874 for the first permanent settlers from Scandinavia. They settled near Reykjavik (which means ‘smokey cove’ – due to the Geothermal heat). Settlers continued to come from Norway, Scotland and Ireland. The first parliament was held at Thingvellir (pictured right), where chieftains met and agreed laws and rules for the country. The country converted to Christianity in the 11th Century, but pagan worship was tolerated if it was in secret. Civil war followed and the end result was that Iceland accepted Norwegian sovereignty and were ruled by the Norwegian kings.
    [Show full text]
  • ICELAND Journey to Iceland and Explore How Its Geography Helped Shape Its Unique Culture and Its Independence from Fossil Fuels
    Faces® Teacher Guide: November/December 2018 ICELAND Journey to Iceland and explore how its geography helped shape its unique culture and its independence from fossil fuels. CONVERSATION QUESTION How does Iceland’s geography influence its culture? In addition to supplemental materials TEACHING OBJECTIVES focused on core Social Studies skills, • Students will learn about Icelandic geography and this flexible teaching tool offers culture. vocabulary-building activities, • Students will describe how the physical characteristics of places are connected to human questions for discussion, and cross- cultures. curricular activities. • Students will analyze the combinations of cultural and environmental characteristics that make places different from other places. • Students will explain how cultural patterns and economic decisions influence environments and the SELECTIONS daily lives of people. • In the Kitchens of Fire and Ice • Students will use details from a text to write a story. Expository Nonfiction, ~1150L • Students will conduct research using print and digital • Weathering the Weather sources. Expository Nonfiction, ~1150L • Students will create a multimedia presentation. • The Eco-Friendliest Country on Earth Expository Nonfiction, ~1150L U33T http://www.cricketmedia.com/classroom/Faces-magazine Faces® Teacher Guide: November/December 2018 In the Kitchens of Fire and ENGAGE Ice Conversation Question: How does Iceland’s geography influence its culture? pp. 12–15, Expository Nonfiction Explore how the rugged geography and Explain that Iceland’s geography is dominated by rocky soil and climate of Iceland have influenced its mountainous terrain with many active volcanoes. Also explain it is an farming practices and its cuisine. island in the far north, near the Arctic Circle. Ask students to hypothesize how the geography of Iceland influences the types of foods that are commonly eaten there.
    [Show full text]
  • EXPLORE with US! Company Profile 2019
    EXPLORE WITH US! Company Profile 2019 Arctic Trucks Experience Tel +354 617 8000 Kletthálsi 3 Email [email protected] 110 Reykjavík, Iceland Website www.atx.is Arctic Trucks Experience offers private self-drive tours in Iceland where you can do the driving, accompanied by an experienced guide. THIS IS Our trucks have been operation in Antarctica since 1996 and we also offer tailor made expeditions and services on the Antarctic continent. We are experienced innovators. Our experience includes unique tours ATX and trainings in Iceland, “extreme logistics” products and services in Antarctica, and the first south to north crossing of Greenland in 2018. ABOUT US Our mission is to deliver high quality service and provide our guests with an unforgettable experience and a lifetime of happy memories. To make sure future generations enjoy the same wild places, we travel responsibly with minimum impact. We teach our guests how to drive with great respect for nature and how to travel safely. The Arctic Trucks guides are all experienced in travelling in the Icelandic highlands and in tough conditions. Many of them have been guiding trips to Antarctica and also work in the Arctic Trucks workshop and have an inside knowledge of our Trucks. The online tour selection is just to give you an idea on what we have to offer, the tours are always private so we have flexibility with the itinerary. Usually our trips are a mix of popular sights and also the isolated highland roads. Few people have had the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a powerful 4×4 in one of the world’s most stunning places.
    [Show full text]
  • Marla J. Koberstein
    Master‘s thesis Expansion of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon L. onto juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. nursery habitat in the Westfjords of Iceland Marla J. Koberstein Advisor: Jόnas Páll Jόnasson University of Akureyri Faculty of Business and Science University Centre of the Westfjords Master of Resource Management: Coastal and Marine Management Ísafjörður, February 2013 Supervisory Committee Advisor: Name, title Reader: Name, title Program Director: Dagný Arnarsdóttir, MSc. Marla Koberstein Expansion of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon L. onto juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. nursery habitat in the Westfjords of Iceland 45 ECTS thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of a Master of Resource Management degree in Coastal and Marine Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords, Suðurgata 12, 400 Ísafjörður, Iceland Degree accredited by the University of Akureyri, Faculty of Business and Science, Borgir, 600 Akureyri, Iceland Copyright © 2013 Marla Koberstein All rights reserved Printing: Háskólaprent, Reykjavik, February 2013 Declaration I hereby confirm that I am the sole author of this thesis and it is a product of my own academic research. __________________________________________ Student‘s name Abstract Sandy-bottom coastal ecosystems provide integral nursery habitat for juvenile fishes, and threats to these regions compromise populations at this critical life stage. The threat of aquatic invasive species in particular can be difficult to detect, and climate change may facilitate the spread and establishment of new species. In 2003, the European brown shrimp Crangon crangon L. was discovered off the southwest coast of Iceland. This species is a concern for Iceland due to the combination of its dominance in coastal communities and level of predation on juvenile flatfish, namely plaice Pleuronectes platessa L., observed in its native range.
    [Show full text]
  • 78 Severn Wildfowl Trust Annual Report 1951-52 79
    78 Severn Wildfowl Trust Annual Report 1951-52 79 THE SEVERN WILDFOWL TRUST EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL ICELAND, 1951 By Peter Scott, James Fisher and Finnur Guðmundsson CONTENTS page Summary 79 Introduction 79 The Breeding Distribution of the Pink-footed Goose 81 The Pink-footed Geese of the í>jórsárver við Hofsjökul 84 Notes on the Birds of the íjórsárver við Hofsjökul 101 Notes on Invertebrates 110 List of Plants 112 References 114 SUMMARY A p a r t y of four assisted b y Icelandic farmers spent five weeks (between 28 June and 2 August 1951) at what may prove to be the world’s largest breeding colony of Pink-footed Geese (Anser brachyrhynchus). The history of this and other breeding colonies is outlined. The colony is in an oasis at the south-east side of the Hofsjökul in the centre of Iceland at a height of 2000 feet. Studies were mainly concentrated on marking, with a view to population measurement, and on behaviour. It was estimated that there were probably about 2300 nests in the oasis and that the population including adults and goslings may have been of the order of 13,000 birds. Recaptures of marked birds were used in making these estimates. Food, predation, nests, eggs and goslings, behaviour of parents and broods are described and discussed. Methods of capture were discovered which throw light on the functions of ancient ruined ‘goose-folds’ found in the area. Five large drives were made, in one of which 267 geese were caught. During the whole period 1151 geese and goslings were marked, some with Swedish-type wing-tags.
    [Show full text]
  • Elements of Nature Relocated the Work of Studio Granda
    Petur H. Armannsson Elements of Nature Relocated The Work of Studio Granda "Iceland is not scenic in the conventional European sense of The campus of the Bifrost School of Business is situated in the word - rather it is a landscape devoid of scenery. Its qual- Nordurardalur Valley in West Iceland, about 60 miles North ity of hardness and permanence intercut v/\1\-i effervescent of the capital city of Reykjavik. Surrounded by mountains elements has a parallel in the work of Studio Granda/" of various shapes and heights, the valley is noted for the beauty of its landscape. The campus is located at the edge of a vast lava field covered by gray moss and birch scrubs, w/ith colorful volcanic craters forming the background. The main road connecting the northern regions of Iceland with the Reykjavik area in the south passes adjacent to the site, and nearby is a salmon-fishing river with tourist attracting waterfalls. The original building at Bifrost was designed as a res- taurant and roadway hotel. It was built according to plans made in 1945 by architects Gisli Halldorsson and Sigvaldi Thordarson. The Federation of Icelandic Co-op- eratives (SIS) bought the property and the first phase of the hotel, the restaurant wing, was inaugurated in 1951. It functioned as a restaurant and community center of the Icelandic co-operative movement until 1955, when a decision was made to move the SIS business trade school there from Reykjavik. A two-story hotel wing with Armannsson 57 Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/thld_a_00361 by guest on 24 September 2021 hotel rooms was completed that same year and used as In subsequent projects, Studio Granda has continued to a student dormitory in the winter.
    [Show full text]
  • COURSE NOTES V0
    Sheep in the Land of Fire and Ice Sauðfé í landi elds og ísa COURSE NOTES v0 Sheep in the land of Fire and Ice COURSE NOTES v0 Contents PART 1. COURSE INTRODUCTION SECTION 1.1 SHEEP IN THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE About this course Meet the experts Navigating the course PART 2. SHEEP GRAZING IN THE NORTH SECTION 2.1 SHEEP GRAZING IN THE NORTH Grazing in Nordic regions Studying herbivory in the North – the need for coordinated research efforts SECTION 2.2 SHEEP GRAZING IN ICELAND Environmental conditions in Iceland How do these conditions influence the impacts of grazing? SECTION 2.3 SHEEP GRAZING CAN LEAD TO SOIL EROSION PART 3. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SHEEP GRAZING IN ICELAND SECTION 3.1 ICELAND BEFORE SHEEP What Iceland could have looked like before human settlement SECTION 3.2 MODELLING THE ECOSYSTEM State and transition models SECTION 3.3 THEN, SHEEP ARRIVED Sheep over time: from landnám to our days SECTION 3.4 EFFORTS TO MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION PART 4. THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF SHEEP GRAZING IN ICELAND SECTION 4.1 SHEEP IN ICELAND TODAY Current grazing systems in Iceland SECTION 4.2 CURRENT EFFORTS IN ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH Grazing research SECTION 4.3 SUSTAINABLE SHEEP GRAZING? The future of sheep grazing PART 5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS SECTION 5.1 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS USEFUL LINKS REFERENCES 2 Sheep in the land of Fire and Ice COURSE NOTES v0 Part 1. Course introduction Section 1.1 Sheep in the Land of Fire and Ice About this course Sheep in the Land of Fire and Ice is a short Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about sheep grazing in Iceland.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian Volcanoes, Based on Recent Seismic Activity; There Are Over 200 Geological Young Volcanic Centres
    Volcanoes of Canada 1 V4 C.J. Hickson and M. Ulmi, Jan. 3, 2006 • Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics Where do volcanoes occur? Driving forces • Volcano chemistry and eruption types • Volcanic Hazards Pyroclastic flows and surges Lava flows Ash fall (tephra) Lahars/Debris Flows Debris Avalanches Volcanic Gases • Anatomy of an Eruption – Mt. St. Helens • Volcanoes of Canada Stikine volcanic belt Presentation Outline Anahim volcanic belt Wells Gray – Clearwater volcanic field 2 Garibaldi volcanic belt • USA volcanoes – Cascade Magmatic Arc V4 Volcanoes in Our Backyard Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics In Canada, British Columbia and Yukon are the host to a vast wealth of volcanic 3 landforms. V4 How many active volcanoes are there on Earth? • Erupting now about 20 • Each year 50-70 • Each decade about 160 • Historical eruptions about 550 Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics • Holocene eruptions (last 10,000 years) about 1500 Although none of Canada’s volcanoes are erupting now, they have been active as recently as a couple of 4 hundred years ago. V4 The Earth’s Beginning Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics 5 V4 The Earth’s Beginning These global forces have created, mountain Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics ranges, continents and oceans. 6 V4 continental crust ic ocean crust mantle Where do volcanoes occur? Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics 7 V4 Driving Forces: Moving Plates Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics 8 V4 Driving Forces: Subduction Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics 9 V4 Driving Forces: Hot Spots Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics 10 V4 Driving Forces: Rifting Global Volcanism and Plate tectonics Ocean plates moving apart create new crust.
    [Show full text]
  • An Icelandic Odyssey: Sagas, Legends and Vikings
    An Icelandic Odyssey: Sagas, Legends and Vikings 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS | GROUP TRAVEL SUGGESTED ITINERARY | CAN BE CUSTOMIZED INCLUSIONS This weeklong itinerary to Iceland was crafted to showcase the best of this Nordic pearl’s Accommodations: cultural heritage. Your group will tour ancient Norse settlements, learn about Icelandic Reykjavík 3 nights, medieval Sagas, and visit amazing natural sites that have served as dazzling backdrops in Borgarnes area 1 night, many Icelandic folktales. If you are seeking a true Icelandic cultural journey; black sandy Varmahlíð area 2 beaches, spectacular fjords, geothermal pools, rich farmlands and remote Highlands are nights, Flúðir area 1 expecting you. night Meals: Continental DAY 1 • ARRIVAL IN Visiting these cultural attractions in breakfast daily, lunch REYKJAVIK Reykjavík will signal the start of your exciting and dinner as noted in quest to learn about the history of Iceland! Welcome to Iceland! Upon itinerary During the tour you will see Bessastaðir; the arrival to Keflavík Air-conditioned, official residence of the president of Iceland; International Airport, an assistant will meet private coaching the Icelandic Parliament, City Hall, the your group in the arrivals hall and Lutheran Cathedral (Dómkirkjan), the English-speaking accompany more it to the hotel in Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King, and assistants and guides Reykjavík by private coach. After checking Reykjavík’s colorful Old Harbor. in, you can begin exploring the world’s Admission tickets as most northern capital city. Please note that During the city tour of Reykjavík you will also outlined in the should you arrive before the hotel’s official visit the futuristic Perlan to take advantage itinerary check-in time (generally 3:00 pm), you are of the amazing, panoramic views it offers of HIGHLIGHTS than welcome to store baggage with the the city.
    [Show full text]
  • Subglacial and Submarine Volcanism in Iceland
    Mars Polar Science 2000 4078.pdf SUBGLACIAL AND SUBMARINE VOLCANISM IN ICELAND. S. P. Jakobsson, Icelandic Inst. of Natural His- tory, P. O. Box 5320, 125 Reykjavik, Iceland Introduction: Iceland is the largest landmass ex- mounds, ridges and tuyas [5]. The thickness of basal posed along the Mid-Ocean Ridge System. It has been basaltic pillow lava piles often exceeds 60-80 meters constructed over the past 16 Ma by basaltic to silicic and a 300 m thick section has been reported. Pillow volcanic activity occurring at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, lavas may also form lenses or pods at a higher level in and is topographically elevated because of the abundant the volcanoes. igneous material produced in association with the Ice- It has been suggested that at a water depth less than land hot spot, the center of which is thought to be lo- approximately 100-150 m, basaltic phreatic explosions cated beneath Vatnajokull glacier [1]. The axial rift produce hydroclastites. It appears feasible to subdivide zones which run through Iceland from southwest to the hyaloclastites of the Icelandic ridges and tuyas, ge- northeast are in direct continuation of the crestal zones netically into two main types. A substantial part of the of the Mid Atlantic Ridge and are among the most ac- base of the submarine Surtsey tuya is poorly bedded, tive volcanic zones on Earth. unsorted, hydroclastite, which probably was quenched Subglacial Volcanism: Volcanic accumulations of and rapidly accumulated below the seawater level with- hyaloclastites which are deposits formed by the intru- out penetrating the surface [6]. Only 1-2 % of the vol- sion of lava beneath water or ice and the consequent ume of extruded material in the 1996 Gjalp eruption fell shattering into small angular vitric particles, combined as air-fall tephra, the bulk piled up below the ice [4].
    [Show full text]