PEDD 9642 - Geology and Natural History of Iceland - Part 3

Course Description

This course will cover the geology and natural history of Iceland in a 10-day field trip to the island. Iceland is an exceptional place to observe the mechanisms of plate tectonics. Nowhere on Earth is the architecture of the spreading sea floor better exposed. Chains of volcanoes, faulting and geothermal activity are all part of the rift separating the Atlantic and the Eurasian Plates. Large glaciers are actively eroding the volcanoes with erosional and depositional features of glaciers on display including spectacular waterfalls. The human history of the island will be explored as we visit the original homestead of Eric the Red and his son Leif Eiriksson. Very little of the native plant life has survived human occupation. We will observe and discuss the effects on the animal life of the island, especially birds. This course will focus on the following; Define glaciers, Types of glaciers, Describe formation of glacial ice, Describe movement of glacial ice, Zone of accumulation , Zone of wastage, Glacial plucking, Glacial abrasion, Glacial polish, Glacial striations, Glacial landforms, Types of glacial deposits, Causes of glaciation, Geothermal features, Causes and characteristics of geothermal features, and photos, diagrams and information from each Field Trip Stop.