LIVING ON THE EDGE

FIRE, ICE AND CLIMATE CHANGEIN ICELAND

A modern country on the Arctic Circle• Iceland has 900 volcanoes; 22 are active• There are four large volcanic centers

There are four main areas of glaciation• The country’s area is larger than Indiana but smaller than

Kentucky• Population ~ 320,000• Farming, fishing, banking, data storage, some industry, tourism• Brushed by the Arctic Circle but warmed by the Gulf Stream

Iceland has no military. (Does it depend on “us”? U.S.)The last war was over cod fishing rights in 1970s.There are just over 100 prisoners in the entire country. City police force does not carry guns.Education through college is free

August, 2009Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

The volcano appears dormant but small earthquakes increased at this timesignaling the possible movement of magma up towards the surface.

2010 Eruption of Eyjafjallajokullbetter known as E 15

February 26: unusual seismic activity and rapid expansion of earth’s crust as magma moves up into chamber

March 20 – 26: Fissure eruptions begins, 5 miles from crater

March 27, 2010

April 14 – May 23, 2010• Crater erupts beneath glacier• Meltwater floods rivers, roads• Evacuation of 800• Explosive lavas• Volcanic ash column extends 5 miles into

atmosphere

April 14 – May 23, 2010• Glacial meltwater floods and lahars• Evacuation of 800 residents.

The flood caused by the E-15 eruption

• Consisted of melted glacial ice (water)– Mixed with erupted volcanic rock, glass and ash

Causes a density flow that travels down grade rapidly Flows into rivers, across fields and highwaysDestructive powerful flow (think wet cement)Can clog rivers with debris or dislodged iceCan cause ice damming which may result in a flash flood when the

ice dam is melted or broken

For video: copy and paste this linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sryalI57oo

April 14 – May 23, 2010

Volcanic ash column extends 5 miles into atmosphere

Volcanic ash iscomposed of fine particles of sharp-edged glass which can be ingested by jet engines. The glass melts and fuses to metal parts. This can cause

catastrophic engine failure.

April 15• Ash plume reaches northern Europe in 24 hours• Air traffic disrupted in mainland Europe– 100,000 flights canceled; 10 million affected

• Volcano Explosivity Index of 4 – moderate

• Volcanic lightning when ejected rock, water and ice collide

• Eruption stops by May 23, 2010

LIVING ON THE EDGE

IN ICELAND?

So…what is it like to be

Climate changenear the Arctic Circle changes in

climate may have dramatic consequences

Fire active volcanic centers

Iceglaciers up to 3000 feet thick 11.5% of Iceland’s surface

Iceland lies on an active plate boundary: The Mid Atlantic Ridge

• The following map indicates the current model of plate boundaries; some have been seen and some have never been seen.Plate boundaries follow the pattern of earthquakes and some volcanoes on earth.

• Volcanoes only occur at mid-ocean ridges, convergent boundaries (subduction zones) and hot spots.

Iceland is one of the few places on earth where the Mid Ocean Ridge lies above sea level

Iceland is a place where geologists can view and study an actual divergent plate boundary

•In the following map and inset, note the large mass of extruded lava (rock) that surrounds Iceland.

• The gray area is the part of the Island that is above sea level; but actually, Iceland’s volcanic deposits extend out into the ocean for hundreds of miles.

• Is this excessive volcanic activity along the Mid Ocean Ridge due to “hyper” volcanism on the ridge?

• Or is there another source of lava such as a Hawaiian-type hot spot right along the ridge?

Some geologists still argue both sides and look at trace elements for evidence of multiple distinct sources of lava from the mantle.

• Most are convinced that there is a deep mantle source of magma/lavathat contributes to the large volume of erupted material that makes up Iceland.

Mid Atlantic Ridge

Rift Valley Area of low elevation

Bounded by normal faultingLava extrudes where crust is thin

What does the Rift Valley of the Mid Atlantic Ridge look like?Area of low elevation

Normal faulting at Thingvellir Lava rocks

Note: low areas fill with fresh watereventually marine waters and an ocean will form between the plates

Walking through the normal fault breaks along the Mid Atlantic Ridge Thingvellir National Park

European Plate

N. American Plate

View from above:

• Young rift valley at Thingvellir.

• Water occupies low lying areas.

• rift widens• marine waters intrude • ocean basin is formed• Separating the North

American and Pacific plates

Life on the Mid Ocean RidgeThe Capital city of Reykjavik lies on the plate boundary

Top FIVE Advantages Living on the Edge of a volcanic rift zone

• # 1 Hot magma flows closely beneath the surface– Geothermal energy source• In 1960s, Iceland cut oil imports and switched to

geothermal energy and hydrogen fuel for cars• Use of crude oil is about 20 barrels of oil per day for

300,000 (.00007 barrels per person per day)• U.S. uses 400 million barrels per day

for 307,000,000 (over a barrel per person per day)

Geothermal plants located in low valleys close to the magma source within the rift

European Plate

Iceland is committed to clean, green, less costly fuels.Cars and fishing boats remain the principal users of fossil fuels.A drive to convert to hydrogen fuel is underway.

• # 2 Unlimited hot water and low cost electricity is generated by geothermal heat– Beneath the city streets of Reykjavik, local wells

transport steam and hot water directly to homes

• Homes and hotels are heated by radiators– 98% of space heating is from geothermal– Water beneath the spreading ridge is 250 degrees C at

depth of 2 km

• # 3 The volcanic landscape provides rich soils for farming during the long days of the short

growing season in northern latitudes.

• Sheep graze on the grassy plains.

•

# 4 Addition of real estate at no apparent cost

• Surtsey Island appeared suddenly above the surface of the waters off the coast of Iceland

It has been preserved as an open and living laboratory for the study of volcanic processes, vegetation, migratory animals and high latitude environments.

November, 1963•Eyewitness to eruption•Eruption column 4 miles•First human 3 weeks later•Plants and birds arrive• in a short time.•Studies show new mineralsnever before found on Icelandand one new to the world.•Access is now limited.

# 5 Leisure and RecreationHot springs, sulfur-rich, silica rich waters

The Blue Lagoon is a man-made outdoor spaheated by mineral waters released from a geothermal plant. The blue color is a result of dissolved silica from rocks and algae. It is one of Iceland’s most famous tourist attractions.

World Class Snorkeling and Diving in thefaults and rift valley

World class scuba site:Copy and paste link below for video of diver in crystal clear waters among the rocks of the plate boundary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvdxYbK53W8&feature=related

Disadvantages of Living on the Edge of a volcanic rift zone

• #1 Volcanic eruptions may be catastrohpic or darned inconvenient

•#2 Eruptions can come without warning

• #3 Disruption of travel plans: historic eruptions in Iceland have continued for two YEARS!

• #4 The water in the shower has a strong odor of sulfur

• #5 High levels of volcanic gases and particulate can enter the atmosphere, soils , water and food supply.Fluoride compounds lethal to livestockAir quality can be poor for extended time.

Living on the Edge:Iceland’s Glaciers

and Europe’s largest ice cap

• Glaciers are in the southeast – More precipitationMore elevation due to volcanic areasGlacers are dependent on winter snowfall that exceeds summer melt

• Ice covers many volcanic peaks(glaciers in white)

• Ice depth can be over 800 meters or up to 3,000 feet

• Note geologic ages of lava flows:pink youngest green olderpurple oldest

• This pattern matches what one• Would expect along a spreading ridge

Top five advantages to living on the edge with Iceland’s glaciers

• #1 Abundant source of fresh, clean water• Glaciers store water and release during summer dry spells• Iceland’s pure high pH own brand of bottled water

pH 8.8 is more basic (not acidic) ** this is corrected

• #2 Resource for hydroelectric power

• #3 Streams form habitats for fish and wildlife

• #4 Open geology laboratory for accessible ice caps and outlet glaciers

• #5 Recreation opportunities abound

Egilsstaoir Hydro Power Plant IcelandClean, green, fossil-fuel-free

Glaciers provide sources of recreation

Spring Melt of Glaciersprovides wilderness recreation

Top five disadvantages to living on the edge near Iceland’s glaciers

• #1 They move. They break off. They melt.•

#2 They tend to cover active volcanoes and can cause destructive flash floods or jokulhlaups (Icelandic for short-lived flooding)

• #3 Because they provide abundant fresh water, industry can move in

•#4 Cheap green hydroelectric power attracts industry that is not so green.

• #5 A disadvantage if you don’t like the cold.

Catastrophic glacial melt

•

filing

1996 eruption causedsub glacial melting.--1000 tons of ice melted filling Lake Grimsvotn from beneath. The lake filled 3 times and overflowed.Water rushed to the shore for 3 daysAt the outlet glacier (coast), water and 50 ft. ice blocks destroyed roads and swept away bridges

1996 Flood when glacier melted destroying highway and bridge

Melting glaciers brings Iceland to the cutting edge of

• Climate Change

• Iceland lies at latitude 63 – 67 degrees NTwo dominating climate factors

• Gulf Stream warming factor• NAO – North Atlantic Oscillation

The melting of glacial ice is a true threat to Iceland

• Initially, melting ice will destroy farmlands and wildlife habitats but encourage others (forests).

• Climate may seem temporary more favorable as when the Nordic people visited Iceland in the Medievil warm period.

• Much of iceland’s infrastructure for geothermal heat transport is above ground. Floods and warmed muddy earth could undermine these structures.

• Melting increases river discharge and flooding of coastal transitional areas– change in salinity and water temperature of limited and fragile

coastal areas

Other dramatic changes• Introduction of large quantities of cold, fresh water in an area of

critical importance in the ocean conveyor.

• Loss of reflectivity could lead to positive feedback and regional warming, accelerating melting of glacial ice

• This, along with effects of Greenland melts, could displace the warm gulf stream and disrupt downwelling of cold, dense salty water.

This would disrupt the transport of warm water towards the higher latitudes; and cold waters toward the lower latitudes of the Atlantic.

•This exchange mixes ocean waters and controls moderation of temperatures over the hemisphere. This is a critical climate control which, if disrupted, could result in extreme temperatures and significant changes especially in the higher latitudes.

Increased volcanic activity and positive feedback of glacial ice loss would disrupt the lives and economies in European countries.

BUTModels show that Iceland is not likely to remain warm.– Once the Gulf Stream is displaced or interrupted,

Iceland could experience cooling and severe Polar winter.

Affecting quality of living, ranching, farming, tourism

Meanwhile……• Iceland is a world leader in clean energy• oil free in several decades• greenhouse gas emissions lower

than regulations allowed Iceland can increase its emissions

But• Iceland cannot export its cheap electricity….

The solution?

Exporting energy means …importing industry: aluminum smelters

• Alcoa has negotiated to build smelters requiring large volumes of fresh water and hydroelectric power. Iceland will build extensive dams and new geothermal wells.Smelters are known to increase greenhouse gas emissions and the release of toxic metal discharge.

AlcoapromotesIts newIcelandSmelters as“eco-friendlygreen industry”butat Iceland’senvironmentalexpense

“Saving Iceland” on Facebookenvironmental groups fight back

• HELP! NATURE UNDER ATTACK!STOP THEM KILLING ICELAND!

“Stop the Icelandic government and arms manufacturers Alcoa.”

• “ A whole world is being drowned right now in the eastern Icelandic highlands. But the Kárahnjúkar dam project is only...”

Iceland is at the crossroads of the North American and European Plates, the North Atlantic, and the

global community

Will the unique Island continue to sustain its natural resources and quality of life?Will Iceland remain a global leader in clean, green energy practices?Or will Iceland be transformed into a developed industrial nation for the sake ofTemporary monetary gain?It may not be long before the fate is sealed for this Island on the edge.