Iceland

by Thor Thordarson

A concise and authoritative field guide to an exceptional natural laboratory, this title in the Classic Geology in Europe series is an essential companion for those visiting Iceland to observe the Earth in action. Rifting of the crust, volcanic eruptions and glacial activity are among a host of processes and features to be observed in this fascinating land. Nowhere else on Earth is the volcanic and tectonic architecture of seafloor rifts better exposed. Large icecaps and extensive river systems grind down the volcanic pile at rapid rates, dispersing and forming thick sequences of sediments. These formations are further modified by the pounding waves of the North Atlantic causing intriguing landforms that exhibit an intricate balance between the construction and erosion of land. Iceland is the only part of the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province that is still active and the only place on Earth where the construction of such provinces can be observed directly. As such, it is a window into the formation of proto-continents early in the Earth’s history. For the past seven million years Iceland has been situated at the boundary of major air and ocean masses and has consequently been exposed to extreme climate changes. The effects of the climate on the rock-forming processes are clearly illustrated by diverse sedimentary and volcanic successions and by the wide range of volcanic landforms formed in sub-aqueous to sub-aerial environments; each succession reflecting the characteristics of internal and external processes.

Genres: Geology

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2014

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I'd been assigned to read in ages in grad school: the definitive guide to Icelandic geology. It's written for more of a popular audience but it taught me all I knew about Iceland before I went for field work.

[Riley Hollenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

prepping for my future masters 🥰👩🏻‍🍳💋✨

[Kara Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for the amateur geologist/geophysicist driving the ring road and seeking some geological context.

Book is written assuming you are traveling counter-clockwise

[Sheri Fresonke Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important geologic background to understanding the environment in Iceland and the places commonly viewed on tours. Contains background on the rift between the European and North American continents, volcanoes, hot spots, ages of everything and what is causing it all.

[Kristīne Līcis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If God was into military gear, Iceland would be His version of Swiss army knife tightly packed with every conceivable force of nature and geological feature to be unleashed on humans with humorous (for celestial beings, that is) results (remember Eyjafjallajökull? /../ the total number of eruptions the may have taken place since the birth of Iceland, 24 million years ago, is in the order of 5 million.). You get glaciers that you can walk on, you get lava fields, you get black beach and the ocean, you get Geysir the geyser, you get the boundary between the Eurasian and North-American continental plates. If you are so inclined, you can dive or snorkel directly in the crack between the two.

Alternatively, Iceland is Exhibit A in the “Earth In Making” show. If we take the age of the Earth as one year, then Iceland was only born less than two days ago. The first regional glaciers of the Ice Age appeared in Iceland about five hours ago and only a minute has passed since the Holocene warming removed this ice cover from Iceland.

Either way, Iceland is cool and fun, especially if you take your time (or - in my case - are forced by your pre-schooler) to read a bit about its geology in a book that strikes just the right balance between “popular” and “science”. Engaging language and wealth of information, including historical and cultural facts.

Did you know that:
- geothermal energy is used for domestic heating used by just over 80% of the population, and that schools have been deliberately located near geothermal areas to utilise this source of energy for heating and swimming pools?
- the first Norsemen arrived in Iceland in the 9th century and caused dramatic change in the vegetation?
- Reykjavik means “smoky bay” and that the name was given by the first settler in about 874 because of the columns of steam rising from geothermal springs?
- Alþingi - the general assembly of the Icelandic commonwealth (930-1262) - was established in 930, is still operational and thus Europe’s oldest operating parliament?
- volcanic eruptions featured as an argument in the debate about adopting Christianity in the year 1000?
- the total volume of magma erupted by the infamous Hekla volcano in historic times is enough to build a 1m-wide and 1.6m-high wall around the 6000km-long coastline of Iceland?
- th Snæfellsjökull volcano is the starting point of the journey in Jule Verne's A journey to the Centre of the Eart?