At Pingvillir, the separating of the two tectonic plates is visible both on land and ocean. More info at https://notendur.hi.is/oi/geology_of_thingvellir.htm
My only class this week is 3 hrs in the mornings called Geology & Geography of Iceland, then more classes start next wk; other classes start mid-Oct. Some terms and topics are familiar but I can tell already that this is a most unique place on the planet & thought I'd share a little of why. It's pretty cool.
First, there is a mid-Atlantic ridge in the centre of the Atlantic Ocean from south in Antarctica to the north above Iceland. This is where new basalt from the core of the Earth come up thru the crust, creating the Ridge, then flowing (subducting) under the continents away from the Ridge. Iceland is the ONLY place on the Ridge that is above water - the Mid-Atlantic Ridge literally goes thru the centre of Iceland, thus the very active volcanic conditions.
1. Iceland is the only location on the planet that is both a Hot Spot (active volcanoes from plumes) and a Rift Zone (two tectonic plates diveraging away from each other). It is literally moving Iceland in two separate directions...N American Plate to the West and Eurasion Plate to the East. It's complex and well, active and geologically young compared to N America..
2. Ionosphere Physics: Iceland is located under a unique high atmospheric Magnetic Field in the ionosphere..
3. Auroral Zone: its a 100-200 km wide circle centred at the N Pole, which depends on solar wind influenced by the magnetic field & diverts solar wind into funnels which is where charged particles react w the atmosphere. This ring is there all the time and mostly uninhabited (except for Iceland which is the most inhabited place under the Auroral Zone!). We just need a dark sky & is most visible in very cold weather. Can't wait to see these Northern Lights once there are shorter days soon. Hmmmm...how does that affect us people - are we magnetized? lol :)
4. Antartica & Greenland's glaciers are below freezing pt whereas Iceland's glaciers are melting pt all the way thru.
5. Climate: one of the most windiest places on Earth, due to its boundary btwn the Arctic & South. The largest recorded waves were found in Iceland at 25m!!! Antarctica had the next closest massive waves. What a powerful force! There isn't much snow in Iceland because its moderated by the N Atlantic warm currents moving northwards & is mostly like a dry desert or volcanic wasteland.
6. Oceanography: Iceland is a critical place as the generation of the N Atlantic Deep Water 'conveyor belt' that starts here & cycles south to Antarctica & thru the Pacific in a long, oceanic floor cycle.
7. Vegetation: not much, and only 7 woody plants. The volcanic mountains are treeless and there are 'horizontal' trees that grow in some places.
8. Geothermal: We saw boiling water in a pool the other day beside the Geysir! There's a hot water pipeline from near Mt Hekla to Reykjavik to heat homes. In Canada, we have oil pipelines. In Iceland, they have hot water pipelines. cool eh.
Iceland's built by eruptions & fire, sculpted by ice & water. The largest volcano witnessed in history was in 1783, Mt Lakagigar ('Laki') which was followed by smallpox and famine worldwide. Global temp decreased 2-3 C. There's 30km long crack remaining.
Won't make this any longer, some have asked about Iceland & others mentioned they've never really thought of this place so....just shared a little in case you're interested. I won't bore you w anymore! This is our Earth & Planet so hope you enjoy learning a little bit about this place as it's a geologists joy, fer sure. It's a backpackers heaven, too!!! bye for now.
First, there is a mid-Atlantic ridge in the centre of the Atlantic Ocean from south in Antarctica to the north above Iceland. This is where new basalt from the core of the Earth come up thru the crust, creating the Ridge, then flowing (subducting) under the continents away from the Ridge. Iceland is the ONLY place on the Ridge that is above water - the Mid-Atlantic Ridge literally goes thru the centre of Iceland, thus the very active volcanic conditions.
1. Iceland is the only location on the planet that is both a Hot Spot (active volcanoes from plumes) and a Rift Zone (two tectonic plates diveraging away from each other). It is literally moving Iceland in two separate directions...N American Plate to the West and Eurasion Plate to the East. It's complex and well, active and geologically young compared to N America..
2. Ionosphere Physics: Iceland is located under a unique high atmospheric Magnetic Field in the ionosphere..
3. Auroral Zone: its a 100-200 km wide circle centred at the N Pole, which depends on solar wind influenced by the magnetic field & diverts solar wind into funnels which is where charged particles react w the atmosphere. This ring is there all the time and mostly uninhabited (except for Iceland which is the most inhabited place under the Auroral Zone!). We just need a dark sky & is most visible in very cold weather. Can't wait to see these Northern Lights once there are shorter days soon. Hmmmm...how does that affect us people - are we magnetized? lol :)
4. Antartica & Greenland's glaciers are below freezing pt whereas Iceland's glaciers are melting pt all the way thru.
5. Climate: one of the most windiest places on Earth, due to its boundary btwn the Arctic & South. The largest recorded waves were found in Iceland at 25m!!! Antarctica had the next closest massive waves. What a powerful force! There isn't much snow in Iceland because its moderated by the N Atlantic warm currents moving northwards & is mostly like a dry desert or volcanic wasteland.
6. Oceanography: Iceland is a critical place as the generation of the N Atlantic Deep Water 'conveyor belt' that starts here & cycles south to Antarctica & thru the Pacific in a long, oceanic floor cycle.
7. Vegetation: not much, and only 7 woody plants. The volcanic mountains are treeless and there are 'horizontal' trees that grow in some places.
8. Geothermal: We saw boiling water in a pool the other day beside the Geysir! There's a hot water pipeline from near Mt Hekla to Reykjavik to heat homes. In Canada, we have oil pipelines. In Iceland, they have hot water pipelines. cool eh.
Iceland's built by eruptions & fire, sculpted by ice & water. The largest volcano witnessed in history was in 1783, Mt Lakagigar ('Laki') which was followed by smallpox and famine worldwide. Global temp decreased 2-3 C. There's 30km long crack remaining.
Won't make this any longer, some have asked about Iceland & others mentioned they've never really thought of this place so....just shared a little in case you're interested. I won't bore you w anymore! This is our Earth & Planet so hope you enjoy learning a little bit about this place as it's a geologists joy, fer sure. It's a backpackers heaven, too!!! bye for now.