Download International Association

International Association
of Professional Geologists
Prepared for
David Osawa, Ph.D.
Convention Director
Prepared by
Eric Coulter, Ph.D.
Chair, Pre-Convention Planning Committee
May 21, 2004
Geo Services, Inc.
18034 Atlantic Street
Richmond, VA 23219
www.geo_services.com
Phone #(804) 449-9921
May 21, 2004
International Association of Professional Geologists
77361 Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Attention: Dr. David Osawa
Convention Site Planning Report
For August 2005 International Convention
This report is from the Pre-Convention Planning Committee investigating the
August 2005 convention of the International Association of Professional Geologists
(IAPG). This report presents findings from the site visit to Iceland to investigate the
potential for hosting the 2005 convention in Reykjavik, Iceland.
In addition to information about the feasibility and benefits of holding the 2005
IAPG convention in Iceland, this report recommends Iceland as the preferred site among
the three sites under consideration for the convention.
We on the Pre-Convention Planning Committee appreciate your support in our
site visit to Iceland. We look forward to your views on the potential of the IAPG
convention being held in Iceland.
Sincerely,
Eric Coulter, Ph.D.
Chair, Pre-Convention Planning Committee
INTRODUCTION
This report presents information resulting from the IAPG Pre-Convention
Planning Committee’s site visit to Iceland in May 2004. The purpose of the visit was to
investigate the potential of holding the 2005 IAPG convention in Iceland.
Volcanoes
Iceland has numerous major volcanoes of various types: strato volcanoes, shield
volcanoes, and crater rows. Several, such as Hekla, are less than two hours from
Reykjavik and easily reached by vans or buses. A short ferry ride to the Westman Islands
south of the main island would take geologists to see Eldfell volcano, which erupted
spectacularly in 1973, creating a new island. Black sand beaches are located at Vik, and
a crater lake is half-way between Reykjavik and Hekla. (See Appendix A: Volcanoes.)
Scoria, obsidian, basalt, and rhyolite are prevalent throughout the area.
Report Format
This report includes four main sections: (1) geological sites to visit, (2) hotel and
convention facilities and costs, (3) transportation availability and costs, and (4)
appendices containing photos of geological features of interest to the scientists attending
the IAPG convention.
Conclusions
 The numerous geological sites of interest and the close proximity they are to one
another make Iceland, especially the area around Reykjavik, an excellent site for
the 2005 IAPG convention. The area abounds in fascinating and varied
geological features of interest to IAPG members.
 Iceland is also not a high tourist destination, which makes it easy to travel in and
also a place that members are not likely to have visited before. It would be a
unique and interesting location for the convention.
 Despite Iceland being a more expensive location than most of continental Europe,
with discounts offered at the Saga Radisson, the costs are within reason.
Geological Sites of Interest
Iceland’s being located on the junction of two tectonic plates creates numerous
geological features in a small geographical area. (See Figure 1: Map of Iceland.)
SITE VISIT
Iceland continues to be a place of particular interest to geologists because of its
unique geological position of being located on the only place where the American and
Eurasian continental plates meet, creating a very active geological site presenting
volcanoes, geysers, thermal springs, fissures, earthquake rifts, glacial scarring, and other
geological phenomena. Because it is the practice of the IAPG to host the annual
conventions in locations of geological interest to the convention participants, Iceland is a
very appropriate convention site.
The Pre-Convention Planning Committee needed to learn firsthand whether or not
Iceland would be a feasible and desirable location for the 2005 IAPG convention.
Therefore, the week-long site visit to Iceland in early May of 2004 sought to provide
information for deciding whether or not Iceland should be the site for the IAPG
convention to be held in August 2005.
Project Description
At the January 2004 Pre-Convention Planning Committee meeting in Washington,
D.C., David Osawa, Vice President of the International Association of Professional
Geologists, asked that the committee investigate the possibility of having the August
2005 IAPG convention in Iceland. Iceland was suggested as the site because of its
unique geological position of being located on a place where the American and Eurasian
continental plates meet, creating a very active geological site presenting volcanoes,
geysers, thermal springs, fissures, earthquake rifts, glacial scarring, and other landscapes
and features of great interest to geologists.
Figure 1: Map of Iceland
Scope of Visit
The purpose of sending three members of the Pre-Convention Planning
Committee to visit Iceland in early May 2004 was to investigate the viability and
practicality of hosting the 2005 convention there. The committee was asked specifically
to examine and report on three considerations for the convention:
 geological sites to visit
 hotel and convention facilities and costs
 transportation availability and costs
Hotel and Convention Expenses and Facilities
Hotel and convention facilities are not abundant in Iceland; however, the PreConvention Planning Committee spoke with Ivar Magnusson, the manager of the Saga
Radisson, and viewed the convention facilities and rooms. The facilities are good and
certainly adequate to host the convention participants. The hotel is well located and
within an easy taxi or bus ride to the main part of town.
The costs of hotels and food are high compared to much of continental Europe;
however, they are comparable to other Scandinavian countries. The manager of the Saga
Radisson has offered special rates for the IAPG convention participants, which make the
expenses reasonable. (See Table 1: Hotel Expenses.)
Thermal Springs, Geysers, and Geothermal Power Plants
Several geysers are clustered together approximately one and a half hours from
Reykjavik (See Appendix B: Thermal Springs.), and thermal springs break through the
surface in many locations along the junction of the two main continental plates.
Near the international airport (Keflavik) is a large geothermal power plant
providing heat to the capital and nearby towns. The easy accessibility from Reykjavik
would make thermal springs, the geysers, and the geothermal power plant easy for
geologists attending the convention to visit. (See Figure 1.)
Recommendations
Based on these conclusions, it is the recommendation of the Pre-Convention
Planning Committee to follow this site visit and report with the following actions:
1. Present these findings to the Executive Cabinet of the IAPG for approval and
acceptance of the Iceland venue for the 2005 convention.
2. Secure in writing the hotel and transportation discounts and rates orally promised
during the site visit.
3. Develop the schedule of events for the convention.
4. Send out a call for papers and announcements/advertising for the convention.
5. Schedule the speakers for the convention and make their travel arrangements.
6. Arrange tours/transportation for the geological sites.
Table 1: Hotel Expenses
Facilities
Single Room (per night)
Double Room (per night)
Breakfast Included
$135
$160 (breakfast for two)
Breakfast not Included
$125
$145
Table 2: Transportation Expenses
Transportation
Bus
Taxi
Car Rental
Per ride
per zone
per mile $200
$1.00
One-day pass/rental
$5.00
$50.00
Three-day pass/rental
$12.50
$80.00
One-week pass/rental
$25.00
$150.00
Waterfalls and Glacial Scarring
Thanks to the numerous and enormous glaciers in Iceland, waterfalls abound—
indeed very dramatic waterfalls. Of more interest to geologists are the signs of glacial
scarring, such as moraine and sandurs, apparent where glacial movement has ground deep
scars in the land from dragging huge boulders. Both waterfalls and glaciers are within a
two-hour drive from Reykjavik—north of the capital and southeast of the capital.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This section includes the major conclusions and recommendations from the PreConvention Planning Committee’s site visit to Iceland.
Fissures and Earthquake Rifts
Fissures, especially along the continental junction, provide close-up examination
of earthquake-generated rifts. The most significant rift is the one created by the two
continental plates, a rift as large as a two-lane road, approximately a one-hour drive from
Reykjavik. (See Appendix C: Fissures and Rifts.)
Transportation Availability and Expenses
Transportation of various types is readily available and is reasonably priced. The
international airport is a half-hour drive from Reykjavik and is best reached by city buses.
Once in the city, walking is an easy way to get around because the city is so small.
However, taxis and city buses are abundant, and bus passes are available for multiple-day
use. Car rentals are also popular and easy to arrange. For longer day trips, such as to
visit geological sites, buses can be hired by IAPG at a group rate. (See Table 2:
Transportation Expenses.)
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APPENDIX A
Volcanoes
_______________________________________________________________________
Volcanic crags near Vik
A volcanic crater lake
_______________________________________________________________________
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The volcano Hekla
_____________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX B
Thermal Springs
_____________________________________________________________
Thermal springs
______________________________________________________________
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APPENDIX C
Fissures and Rifts
______________________________________
Earthquake fissure
______________________________________
The great rift at the continental plates
______________________________________
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