Surtsey – The Young Volcanic Island

Most islands on Earth are older than millions of years, but Surtsey island is younger than some of the people reading this article. Surtsey is located near the southern coast of Iceland. It emerged from the Atlantic Ocean in a fiery eruption, which began 130 meters below see level in November 1963. During the next three and one-half years its volcanic core built up an island of one square mile area.  Since then, wave erosion has caused the island to steadily diminish in size: as of 2012, its surface area was half a square mile. Icelandic government has made it strictly off limit to the public, with only one tiny a small prefabricated hut used as research station. Tourists can’t set a foot on the island, but anyone can admire it from afar during a boat ride. Although it doesn’t show a direct threat to life and health, casual visitors can jeopardize the purity of one of the most important experiments in the history of the mankind. Because of which the island was able to thrive naturally and organically develop its own ecosystem, consisting of plants, birds, insects and seals. Surtsey has been producing unique long-term information on the colonization process of new land by plant and animal life.

Formation of the Island

The volcanic activities started on the sea floor few days before it became visible on the surface. The eruption site is 430 feet below sea level, and at this depth volcanic emissions and explosions would be suppressed and dissipated by the water pressure and density. Gradually, as repeated flows built up a mound of material that approached sea level, the explosions could no longer be contained, and activity broke the surface.

The eruptions took place at three separate vents along a northeast by southwest trending fissure. Over the weeks, explosions were continuous, and after just a few days the new island was formed. As the eruptions continued, they became concentrated at one vent along the crack and began to build the island into a more circular shape. The violent explosions caused by lava and sea water created a loose pile of volcanic rock, which was eroded swiftly by North Atlantic storms during the winter, reducing the island size to the half.

Beginning of Life and research on the Island

It was intensively studied by volcanologists during its eruption, and afterwards by botanists and other biologists as life forms gradually colonized the originally barren island. Since they began studying the island in 1964, scientists have observed, the first bacteria colonized it in only a few hours after the onset of the volcanic pumice over the water, the arrival of seeds carried by ocean currents, the appearance of molds and fungi, followed in 1965 by the first vascular plant, of which there were 10 species by the end of the first decade. By 2004, they numbered 60 together with 75 bryophytes, 71 lichens and 24 fungi. Eighty-nine species of birds have been recorded on Surtsey, 57 of which breed elsewhere in Iceland. The island is also home to 335 species of invertebrates. Spiders, worms, flies, and various types of beetles are also, among its main inhabitants.  Continuing their research, scientists expect to shed light on the theory of the origin of life on Earth, which still hides many mysteries.

Human footprints on the Island

The only substantial human interference over the island is in the form of a small hut made of natural materials, used by researchers while staying on the island. The hut has a few bunk beds and a solar power source to drive an emergency radio. There is also an abandoned lighthouse foundation. On a couple of occasions, few trespassers came in rowboats and planted potatoes and tomatoes on the island, which were immediately uprooted.

Future of the Island

Although erosion has caused it to reduce in size and might continue to do so, however, the good news is, its core is covered with harder lava, thus, this island is unlikely to disappear entirely in the near future. Additionally, because of its continuing protection, Surtsey will continue to provide invaluable data on primary succession and biological colonization long into the future.