Download Iceland-fire-and-ice

Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice
11th – 16th July 2014
The only place where the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge rises above sea level.
Staffing
• Mr Paul Shimmin (Leader)
• Mr Keith Winstanley (Deputy Leader)
• Mrs Danielle Winstanley
Flights
Fri. 11th July: IOM
Fri. 11th July: Manchester
out: 07.05
out: 13.25
arr: 07.55 Manchester
arr: 15.00 Keflavik
Weds. 16th July: Keflavik
out: 08.00
Weds. 16th July: Manchester out: 16.55
arr: 11.35 Manchester
arr: 17.40 IOM
General Profile of Iceland
• Area: 103,000 sq km
• Coastline: 4,970 km
• Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with
mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply
indented by bays and fiords
• Land use:
– arable land: 0.07%
– other: 99.93% (2011)
• Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal
power, diatomite
Is there a National Health Service?
• Yes. After 6 months..
• IOM is not in EEA – no EHIC so we will have DEC insurance
Demographics
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Population: 306,694 (July 2009 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 20.7%
Population growth rate: 0.741% (2009 est.)
Urban population: 92% (2008)
Infant mortality rate: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live
births
• Life expectancy at birth: 80.67 years
• Adult literacy: 99%
Living Costs (2012)
Eating out
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, three-course, no drinks
£51.70
Supermarket
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) £10.55
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
£10.00
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
£100.56
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data ADSL)
£35.45
Where can the information we will collect and
the experiences we have be put to use?
• Global climate change
• Evidence for climatic change over the last 20 000 years.
• Global warming – possible causes. Possible effects: on a
global scale.
• Responses to global warming: International, national and
local.
Where can the information we will collect and
the experiences we have be put to use?
Plate movement
1. Earth structure, plate tectonics theory - sea-floor spreading.
2. Evidence for Continental Drift
3. Constructive plate margins.
Vulcanicity
1. Forms of intrusive activity – dykes, sills, batholiths.
2. Forms of extrusive activity – geysers, hot springs and boiling mud.
3. Major forms of extrusive activity – types of volcanoes and lava
4. Case studies of recent (inside the last 30 years) volcanic events
• The nature of the volcanic hazard
• The impact of the event
• Management of the hazard and responses to the event.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
(Divergent tectonic plate boundary)
Iceland’s Eruptions
• The island lies just south of the Arctic Circle on
top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two
tectonic plates are pulling apart. Magma from
deep inside Earth rushes upward, filling the gaps
and fueling Iceland's volcanic eruptions, which
occur regularly.
• Eyjafjallajökull volcano on March 27, 2010.
The eruption started on March 21, hundreds of people were
evacuated from their homes, due to fears of flooding.
From a different angle, Eyjafjallajökull's "lavafall" on March 26, 2010.
Krafla Volcano - Iceland
An incandescent basaltic lava flow winds its way from a vent at Krafla volcano in
1984. The flow originated from an 8.5-km-long fissure which was produced by
rifting along the mostly submarine Mid-Atlantic Ridge where it rises above sea level.
Cooling lava flows
More cooling lava
The Gullfoss (Golden Falls) Waterfall
An eruption of the
geyser ‘Strokkur’.
• Not far from Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the much
larger Mýrdalsjökull glacier (check the map on
the next slide)
A river with volcanic black sand banks meanders to
the sea through fields near the southern coast
Reykjavik
Day 1 - Friday
• Arrive at Hotel approximately 17.30 via prite
coach with guide
• Evening meal
• Visit to local hot spring
Day 2 - Saturday
• Golden Circle tour (8 – 9) hours (private coach
and guided)
Gullfoss waterfall
Great Geysirn (Geyser)
Strokkur (Geyser)
Pinvellir National park – mid atlantic ridge above
ground and site of world’s oldest parliament
Ice-skating + food
Day 3
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South Shore guide tour
Greenhouses driven by geothermal power
Eyjafjallajokull
Waterfalls – Seljalandsfoss and Skargofloss
Local farm visit to hear and see first hand
evidence of eruption’s effects.
• Bowling and pizza in evening
Day 4
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Lava tubes
Snorkelling mid – Atlantic Ridge
Reykyavik tour
Evening meal out
Swim in hot springs
Day 5
• Travel home