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.
Icelandic culture cannot be fully comprehended without
understanding its geology. Thus the book will interest not only
student, amateur and professional geologists but also others
attracted by the natural environment and seeking a deeper
understanding of what makes Iceland the unique place that it is.
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