Surtsey, the Birth of an Island | The Volcanic Island Turned 50 (HD 1080p)
Summary
TLDRIn March 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causing a massive ash cloud that disrupted European air traffic. The Westman Islands, off Iceland's coast, experienced heavy ashfall, recalling the devastating eruptions of Eldfell and Helgafell in 1973. Iceland, situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge, is prone to volcanic activity. The island of Surtsey, formed in 1963, has become a unique natural laboratory for scientists studying its volcanic past and present, as well as the development of its ecosystem. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 2008, recognizing its scientific and ecological significance.
Takeaways
- ⏱️ The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland caused an ash cloud that disrupted European air travel for days.
- 🌋 The Westman Islands are located near Iceland and are prone to volcanic activity, with Eldfell and Helgafell causing significant damage in the past.
- 🏝️ Heimaey, the largest and only inhabited island of the Westman Islands, had to be evacuated during a volcanic eruption due to lava flow threats.
- 🔥 Iceland is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where tectonic plates are drifting apart, leading to frequent volcanic eruptions.
- 🌿 The island of Surtsey was formed by volcanic eruptions in 1963 and has been a significant research site for scientists studying volcanic activity.
- 🌾 Over 70 plant species have been found on Surtsey, but only around 60 have been able to establish themselves long-term.
- 🏞️ Surtsey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 due to its unique ecosystem and scientific value.
- 👨🔬 Research on Surtsey includes studies on how plants and animals colonize new land and the development of ecosystems.
- 🌊 The island's formation and the subsequent changes have been closely monitored, providing a unique record of an island's ecological development.
- 🚣♀️ Access to Surtsey is highly restricted, with only a few hundred people allowed to visit, to preserve the scientific integrity of the island.
Q & A
What event in March 2010 impacted Europe's air traffic?
-The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, which released an 8-kilometer high ash cloud that paralyzed Europe's air traffic for days.
How often does Iceland experience volcanic eruptions on average?
-Iceland experiences volcanic eruptions every 5 years on average.
What happened during the eruption of Eldfell and Helgafell almost 40 years ago?
-Eldfell and Helgafell almost destroyed Heimaey, the largest and only inhabited island of the Westman Islands. Fortunately, a storm the day before confined the whole fishing fleet to the harbor, allowing the entire population to be evacuated in time.
What was the danger posed by the lava during the eruption of Eldfell and Helgafell?
-The danger was that the lava would close off the harbor. To prevent this, they hosed it down with cold water for weeks until they managed to protect the entrance.
What geographical feature makes Iceland prone to volcanic eruptions?
-Iceland and the Westman Islands are located on the mid-Atlantic ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are drifting apart, causing frequent volcanic eruptions.
How were the islands of the Westman group formed?
-All islands in the Westman group were created by volcanic eruptions about 5000 years ago, forming a chain from north to south.
What is unique about the island of Surtsey?
-Surtsey is unique because it was formed during a volcanic eruption in 1963, and it has been continuously studied since its formation, providing a rare opportunity to observe the development of an ecosystem on a new island.
Why is it difficult to visit the island of Surtsey?
-Visiting Surtsey is difficult because only about 100 people have been allowed to set foot on it so far, requiring a permit from the government which is hard to get and has a time limit.
What is the significance of Surtsey being declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008?
-Surtsey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 due to its outstanding universal value as a natural laboratory for the study of ecological succession, as it provides a unique record of colonization and development of life on a newly formed island.
What role do scientists play in the study of Surtsey?
-Scientists study the volcanic past and present of the island, as well as the colonization of plants and animals, and the development of the ecosystem. Their research contributes to understanding the island's unique geological and biological processes.
How have plants and animals colonized Surtsey?
-Plants and animals have colonized Surtsey through various means such as being carried by birds, floating in the sea, or being transported by wind. Some species were even introduced accidentally, like a tomato plant that grew from a seed dropped by someone on the island.
Outlines
🌋 Volcanic Eruptions and Iceland's Impact
The script discusses the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland in March 2010, which caused a massive ash cloud that disrupted European air traffic for days. It highlights the Westman Islands, particularly the inhabited island, which was heavily affected by ash fall. The islands are situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge where tectonic plates are drifting apart, leading to frequent volcanic activity. The script recounts a past eruption that almost destroyed the island's town but was mitigated by fortunate weather conditions that kept the fishing fleet in the harbor, allowing for evacuation. It also describes efforts to protect the harbor from lava and the subsequent changes to the island's geography. The Icelandic Institute for Natural History is mentioned as a key research center studying the volcanic past and present of the country.
🌿 The Dynamic Ecosystem of Surtsey Island
This section delves into the scientific study of Surtsey Island, formed by a volcanic eruption in 1963. It discusses the island's unique geological features, such as the transformation of tephra into palagonite, a process that was surprisingly rapid. The script mentions the challenges of accessing the island and the strict regulations to preserve its natural state, including the need for permits and the prohibition of leaving anything behind. The island's biodiversity is explored, with over 70 plant species recorded, although only a few have established long-term. The narrative also touches on the island's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its scientific value and the unique opportunity it provides to study ecosystem development over the 50 years since its formation.
🚤 The Expedition to Surtsey Island
The script narrates a visit to Surtsey Island, detailing the logistical challenges of landing on the island due to its rocky coastline and the need for a permit from the government. It introduces the team's guide, Thorbjorg, who ensures that no foreign elements are introduced to or taken from the island, emphasizing the pristine nature of the ecosystem. The visitors are cautious of the weather, which can change rapidly and affect their ability to return. The script vividly describes the island's landscape, including the rocky shores and the views of the Westman Islands and Iceland's mainland. It also discusses the island's geological features, such as the lava rocks and the protective role they play against erosion.
🌱 Life on a Young Island: Surtsey's Biological Development
This part of the script focuses on the biological colonization of Surtsey Island. It describes how plants and animals have managed to reach the island despite its remote location and how they have adapted to the harsh environment. The first plant found in 1965 was a sea rocket, and over time, other species arrived, some through natural means like wind and sea currents, and others accidentally, such as a tomato plant that grew from a discarded seed. The script also mentions the role of birds and other animals in transporting seeds. It discusses the challenges faced by plants near the Arctic Circle and how the stronger species outcompete the weaker ones. The narrative includes a story about a researcher, Sturla Fredrickson, who has been studying the island since its formation and his experiments simulating the origins of life, drawing inspiration from Charles Darwin's ideas.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Eldfell
💡Helgafell
💡Ash cloud
💡Lava
💡Mid-Atlantic Ridge
💡Tephra
💡Palagonite
💡Surströmming
💡Biodiversity
💡UNESCO World Heritage Site
💡Ecosystem
Highlights
In March 2010, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causing an ash cloud that paralyzed Europe's air traffic for days.
The Westman Islands off the coast of Iceland experience ash fall during volcanic eruptions.
Iceland experiences volcanic eruptions every 5 years on average.
Eldfell and Helgafell volcanoes almost destroyed Heimaey 40 years ago, but the entire population was evacuated in time.
Lava from the eruption threatened to close off the harbor, but was prevented by hosing it down with cold water.
Iceland and the Westman Islands are located on the mid-Atlantic ridge where tectonic plates are drifting apart, causing frequent volcanic eruptions.
All islands in Iceland were created by volcanic eruptions about 5000 years ago.
Surtrasey, the southernmost island, was formed in 1963 by a volcanic eruption.
Surtrasey is protected as a natural conservation area and is a significant research project for the Icelandic Institute for Natural History.
Geologists study the volcanic past and present of Iceland, including the composition of tephra and lava.
Surtrasey's tephra and palagonite formations are studied for their resistance to erosion.
Surtrasey was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 for its unique geological and biological features.
Biologists study how plants and animals colonize the island and the development of the ecosystem.
Over 70 species of plants have been found on Surtrasey, but less than 60 were able to establish themselves long-term.
The number of plant species on Surtrasey has been declining, suggesting the ecosystem may be stabilizing.
Access to Surtrasey is highly restricted, with only about 100 people allowed to set foot on it so far.
Researchers have a unique 50-year record of the island's development, providing valuable insights into island formation and ecosystem evolution.
Surtrasey's biodiversity is already exceeding expectations, with species arriving via wind, sea, and even birds.
The island's formation and development are still in their early stages, with much more to be learned in the future.
Transcripts
March 2010 after almost two hundred
years of non activity in the south of
Iceland iff logicals erupts an eruption
that paralyzed Europe's air traffic for
days with its 8 kilometer high ash cloud
the Westman Islands off the coast of
Iceland are drowning in ash fall at
times a May the largest and only
inhabited of these islands gets a
reminder of times past iff logicals is a
sleeping giant once more Iceland
experiences volcanic eruptions every 5
years on average eldfell and Helga fell
almost destroyed him ae 40 years ago
fortunately a storm the day before had
confined the whole fishing fleet to the
harbor making it possible to evacuate
the entire population in time a third of
all homes were flattened by the lava
stream or burnt there was also the
danger that the lava would close off the
harbor
for weeks they hosed it down with cold
water and eventually managed to prevent
it the entrance to the harbor is smaller
now but the harbor itself is even better
sheltered than before
Iceland and the Westman Islands are
located on the mid-atlantic fold where
the Eurasian and North American plates
are drifting apart
a seam in the Earth's crust that keeps
opening up causing frequent volcanic
eruptions Iceland is one of the earth's
most active volcanic areas
all islands here were created by
volcanic eruptions about 5000 years ago
forming a chain from north to south only
certs say the most southern island is
younger
we at Newton had planned to get to
search say by boat today but it was too
stormy
certs a is named after the northern god
of fire cert sir who created an inferno
here 50 years ago
at a depth of about 130 meters a 400
meter long fissure opened after only one
day the island started to appear at the
water's surface producing a 10 meter
high column of steam
during the following months four islands
all together grew out of the ocean
only certs say is high enough to have no
water filling the craters anymore
while the other islands were washed away
again by the ocean within a few months
lava started to flow on surd say the
cool down lava is hard enough to shelter
the island from erosion
at the Icelandic Institute for Natural
History scientists research the volcanic
past and present of the country certs
say was already protected as a natural
conservation area during its formation
it has become one of their most
important research projects very few
researchers were allowed to actually set
foot on cersei one of them is geologists
to visa us beyond oh dear when search
they erupted in 1963 around seventy
percent of the work on it material was
tetra like this one
the tephra is very loose and it easily
eroded away this is a area photo
officers say when the eruption had ended
in 1967 and there you can see the two
cones and they are mainly made of tetra
and then the flower began to flow and
and this is the older one and and this
is the younger one and they protected
the tempura in death
however the lava layer doesn't keep the
surface from a roading forever so what
made certain last when you have a
geothermal in the island we the tephra
begins to operate and we have this
consolidated palak on it tough and this
polygon it is very hard and resistant
for the sea waves dr. Sweeney occurs on
Khao Lak is at the institution of
Natural History has been studying the
alteration between the tephra
and the palak only tough and it was a
surprise to him that it only take two
years for the palak only tool to form in
insert say because scientists thought it
would take a lot of longer time much
longer time when it it since the weather
or at least the high waves did not
cooperate today we want at least to have
a
the air
the other Westman Islands one could not
reach by boat at all because they are
just cliffs sticking out of the sea
the only place where a boat can land on
search say is called the North spit
besides that there were only steep
cliffs on certs a
spine jakob sun discovered that pal
g'nite forms at a temperature of 55
degrees celsius only underneath the
crater and the lava domes could these
conditions be found for a longer time
therefore those will be the only parts
of the island able to survive
the coast of the spit is completely
covered with lava rock this makes it
difficult for a boat to land but they're
a tiny bit of sand we have to make sure
we will find us again when we come by
boat deep furrows and fissures the PAL
g'nite areas are so compact no rain
water can seep in the rain creates
waterfalls around the island
eroding the edges
the next morning disappointment the
weather is not cooperating again this
could be a real problem soon only about
100 people have been allowed to set foot
on certs say so far scientists and
reporters one needs a permit from the
government which is hard to get and has
a time limit when the next stretch of
reasonably good weather comes another
group might already have booked it that
would be the end of our trip in July
2008 UNESCO declared certs a a world
heritage site
what makes this island so outstanding to
deserve this prestigious award the
researchers at the Institute for natural
history discover Cersei's uniqueness day
by day not only geologists but also
biologists like Borg tor Magnuson think
it is right that certs say got World
Heritage status on Thursday there was an
opportunity to study how how plants and
animal would colonize the island and how
ecosystem would develop and we have been
able to do this where Cersei has been
visited every single year from its
formation and we now have a 50 years
record from the island and which is
quite unique I don't think you have such
a complete record from one any other
island in the world
scientists found over 70 species of
plants but less than 60 were able to
establish themselves for a longer term
it looks as if Cersei has exceeded its
biodiversity already you're in the last
last two years the number of species on
should say plant species has been
declining somewhat so we believe that
perhaps we have reached the peak there
that and the ecosystem will become
similar to what we found on the
neighboring islands also you can already
see this change is taking place finally
the weather is great and it will be only
us visiting Surt say today
we get the go-ahead from the government
as well as captain Hilmar
our official guide is tortoise
braggadocio
she makes sure we do not take anything
from the island or leave anything behind
our shoes are especially well clean for
the trip no seed can be stuck on our
shoes if it were to germinate it would
throw out all the data biologists
collect the birds are allowed we are not
in spite of the sunshine and blue sky
there is strong wind in the forecast for
the afternoon
this could mean we are not able to get
back by boat
therefore Hilmar speeds up a bit so we
have at least two to three hours to look
around the island
after about half an hour we are almost
there
this is a first for tortoise up to now
she always came by helicopter
now we have to find a little patch of
sand we saw from the airplane
it doesn't look very inviting maybe
there is a better spot
but after a few meters there is already
the clip again
Gilmar doesn't look too happy but
eventually he decides on a little sand
hatch as a good spot to land
there is no mooring place for the big
boat
we have to be taken to shore in a small
boat
this means don't hesitate just jump it
all looks quite easy but being in the
little boat we realize that the waves
are much higher than we expected
while we get our gear together to
finally get onto the island the surf
becomes a lot stronger and behind us we
can hear a wave
the tip officers say is changing all the
time it's never the same for 20 30 years
ago we had this lovely centipedes but
now it's very rocky and with big
boulders of lava that has been breaking
down on the south coast and transported
along the west coast and to this day
where it is settled down that also
protect the islands from people going
off you after a bit of a rough landing
Cersei greets us with a breathtaking
view to the Westman Islands and IFLA
across
it is more than 80 kilometers away but
looks amazingly close fascinating that
plants and animals reach third say over
that distance
already in 1965 the first plant was
found a sea rocket that flourished over
the years amazingly well it is a plant
of this region which could not be said
for some of the other species in the
early years one summer one of the
students found quite a familiar plant
growing out on the lava and when he
looked closer then he saw that someone
had eaten a tomato and didn't follow the
sanitary rules and went about his doing
his things her out on the lava and
tomato started growing a few weeks later
the tomato plant was ripped out but many
other plants arrived on cert say in a
very similar way by a bird's over very
long distances in the stomach of a bird
researchers found little pebbles and
seeds from the Scottish Highlands
with the wind floating in the sea and
even through fish seeds insects and
microorganisms made their way here
a bird may be on its way to feed its
young dropped an earthworm not long
after earthworms establish themselves on
cert say not many plant species can
survive in the long run so close to the
Arctic Circle and the stronger ones
crowd out the weaker ones
the only structure is a type of
lighthouse that was never used because
of the often very low clouds it has
become a shelter for a very basic
overnight stay
one person who has used this shelter
numerous times is one of the veteran
researchers of certs a sturla
Fredrickson biologist and geneticist a
man of the first hour since certs they
started forming he has come every year
he takes his inspiration from the
grandfather of Charles Darwin I read the
story by Erasmus Darwin and in his poem
he describes that a life had been formed
during uh an eruption in ocean an idea
that fascinated Frederickson he created
a miniature ocean by mixing distilled
water with the exact salts found in the
North Atlantic and put glowing lava into
the container
I had a vision
water analyzed unten never two amino
acids found in the container gleason
vision and alamin amino acids are part
of DNA no one knows what kind of life
suits a will still produce even without
seeds the island is still very young
there English people they say about old
people oh he's as old as a Hills but I
could say when I walked on Thursday I am
twice as old as a hen's there hills on
Thursday that were only 40 years old and
I was 80 years old at that time
not only sturla Fredrickson but every
scientist is well aware of the fact how
young this island is we must realize
that we have only had 50 years on 56 or
we are we have just been reading the
first chapter of the story
if you stay on Susie and look at all the
islands then you see what will become of
Surtsey in hundreds or thousands of
years hopefully studies will continue on
Susie and and there will be more
exciting chapters coming from the island
in the future learning much more about
the island here it's only you're only
just beginning
you
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