Iceland's Amazing Geology Explained: Volcanism, Tectonics, and Glaciers

Geology professor Shawn Willsey explains the basic geology of Iceland. Explore the interplay between tectonics, volcanism, and glaciers.
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Shawn Willsey
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue
Twin Falls, ID 83303
00:00 Introduction
03:08 Tectonic Setting
05:33 Volcanism
26:05 Volcano-Glacier Interaction
31:37 Glaciers

[@bigjay875]

Thanks you so much for putting this video together. Im disabled from a very messy industrial accident and will never be able to travel there let alone visit the sites so videos will be the best i can ever get to experience such beautiful land. I truly appreciate your efforts and investment in time. Thanks again!

[@shawnwillsey]

It’s a true pleasure and honor to bring this to you and help you explore these areas as best you can.

[@bigjay875]

@@shawnwillsey thanks again for the hard work you put in to making this public 👍

[@StarBitt97]

I am with you. I have MS and am disabled so I can’t explore these things like I would wish…I am very grateful for people who put these videos on the internet! Blessings to you!

[@bigjay875]

@@StarBitt97 good luck buddy hope you are still able to find some stuff in life to still make ya happy

[@Anne5440_]

Very excellent presentation. Your students are very fortunate to go on amazing field trips with you.

[@gerardacronin334]

A 40 minute lecture never went so quickly. You are such a great teacher, Prof. Willsey.

[@fredhartman1325]

I've been to Iceland five times, and it has become one of the "in" places to visit. I have a 60-minute travelogue I present in schools and retirement communities, plus made a 16mm 90-minute film I presented in auditoriums. I so much appreciate this video and others you have done, giving so many of us a knowledge of geology.

[@patrickkillilea5225]

Iceland looks like a crazy wild, beautiful place. Your photo with the feeder dyke, I think is amazing.

[@shawnwillsey]

You can support my field videos by clicking on the "Thanks" button just above (right of Like button) or by going here: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EWUSLG3GBS5W8

[@JJ-rl5ef]

Thanks for the presentation. I had been to Iceland in 2022, and had tried to find a concise explanation of the geology, but without success. Your explanations were great. Would love to hear more.

[@shawnwillsey]

I’ll be there again in about a week. Let me know if you have a topic or location of a particular interest.

[@Ronsantiniphoto0527]

Shawn, Thank you for a great presentation. You present this information in such a way that non-scientific folks can easily understand.

[@rosszman9]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU very much for putting your videos together. I’m very new to all this, but learning every time I watch another one. Appreciate you explaining in way understandable to me. Also, you keep my attention through out the video. Good job, and please keep producing so we can keep learning. 👍

[@gonemadinnz]

This was fascinating and so informative. Thank you for the daily updates on events in Iceland. I'm addicted!

[@johnnash5118]

I enjoy your interpretations of active tectonics; I apply it to the tectonic features in my state of Oregon with its 82,000 square miles of volcanic related geology that has occurred over the past 55M years. Many of the geologically recent features that occurred in Oregon are occurring in Iceland- Fissure and flood eruptions, the 150 sq. mile Belnap Crater aa lava field, lava tubes, tuyas, cinder cones, calderas, maars, shield and strato volcanoes.

[@nette5597]

Fantastic presentation! I've been watching your daily videos on the current situation in Grindivik and so found this video to be extremely informative. I'm in Australia, and (at my age) will never have the good fortune to visit Iceland. Thus I visit vicariously via YT videos. Your students are so lucky to have such a great teacher.

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

I wouldn't mind visiting Australia myself... I live in the""good old" U.S. of "sorry world: we didn't all vote for him" A." A place as corrupt as it is arrogant, as xenophobic as it is ignorant, and seems to embody all that is cheesy and cruel. I'm not saying there aren't great things and great people here because there are for sure... But there is also, well, that other stuff. my two cents- Peace and love.

[@clydecessna737]

Thanks Prof.Willsey. For some reason sub-glacial and submarine eruptions are of great interest to me.

[@shawnwillsey]

Me too.

[@marcwesley8513]

Outstanding presentation Mr. Willsey, I thoroughly enjoy all of your presentations, your logical, concise, intelligent yet easy to understanding explanations is so refreshing. Although I never formally studied geology, I’m a backyard type uneducated geologist at heart, I’m fascinated by how and what forces shaped and continue to shape our planet. My wife and I live 51 miles north of Yellowstone park, just outside of beautiful Paradise Valley (yes, home of the Yellowstone series fictional Dutton Ranch), the drive through the valley whether it be on East River Rd or Route 89, the geologic strata along either side of the valley and into the park are wonders to behold. I’ve been following your Iceland / Grindavyk updates, as my wife and I recently returned from two incredible weeks circumnavigating the amazing country island of Iceland, unfortunately we missed the June-August volcanic eruption and now the potential eruption near Grindavyk, the overwhelming geological sculptures, formations, activity passed and present are sights, I just couldn’t get enough of. One of our amazing adventures besides the zodiac boat tour in the ice berg lagoon near Diamond Beach, was drysuit snorkeling in the area where mid-Atlantic ridge is exposed and the huge lake that has formed, to see down rock walls and huge boulders then into 200-300 ft. of crystal clear glacial water, was breathtaking ( cold temps too🥶). Anyway, thank you for your insight and knowledge of the fascinating places of our amazing planet…..3 rd rock from the sun. Travel safe and keep up the great work….regards from Southern Montana.

[@marcialoofboro306]

Thanks for the class! I really enjoyed learning all about the types of volcanoes, how they formed etc. Cool picture of you and the ice berg!

[@graysonchip]

Great educational video, Shawn! Methinks some of this will become increasingly more relevant for me in the latter half of Nick’s Ice Age Floods A to Z series!

[@lesleycockerham2980]

Having followed you since November 2023 this presentation appeared as a possible watch. Loved the overview of Iceland, not just the Reykjanes peninsula and it has added to my general information about the country. Thank you

[@earljohnson2676]

I never thought I would sit through a video like this glued to my screen with eyes n ears wide open . It’s really amazing how our planet works

[@bal20]

Your videos and content Shawn are interesting, informative and easy to watch. Just wanted to say thanks, as I plan to watch all of it!

[@shawnwillsey]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@helenedesmarais8697]

That was so well explained that I was surprised at the 40 min mark, Already ??!! Thank you much

[@davidk7324]

"Volcanic breccia" makes sense, evocative. I like it.

[@TrainLordJC]

Excellent presentation Mr Willsey. Beautifully explained for amateurs to understand the gradual processes. I was in Iceland in 1985 and I remember being in a local's house one evening watching many of his videos showing the volcanic activities that he and his father recorded. Since then I have educated myself so much more about geology having travelled extensively around the world in my younger years and therefore developing a hugely interesting and appreciative knowledge of our spectacular planet and I continue the education process by watching your many videos as well of course of others such as Nick Zentner and so many more. KZbin is by far the best platform for this. And also having lived and travelled extensively in North America (I am from Australia) including Idaho and Utah your videos are indeed very interesting. Thank you for your work.

[@Steviepinhead]

Great illustration by Chelsea!

[@BashQamar]

Very well presented. Thank it will make over trip to Iceland worthwhile.

[@michellejacobcik9946]

With the current irruption in Iceland (December 18, 2023 ) your video helps me to understand what is going on. Thanks.

[@kevinbaird9763]

Excellent presentation Professor. Thank you for your time.

[@stormforce171]

excellent presentation. Thanks.

[@juliamarple3785]

Awesome as usual ♡

[@LizWCraftAdd1ct]

Thank you Shawn, love this.

[@geoffburlinson8909]

Fascinating. Thank you so much Professor Willsey.

[@valoriel4464]

Excellent. Ready for another geo adventure. Thx Sir Willsey

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

Excellent teaching Shawn. Thank you.

[@robbirobin9657]

Thank you, that was really interesting.

[@underwaterpat]

Great vid, thank you!

[@winnieg100]

Thank you so much. I enjoyed this very much because I am fascinated by geological history. Your illustrations over the images are very helpful I am 79 and probably will never go to Iceland but I love to watch your lectures. I was a public health nurse and now I love to become educated on our earth’s tectonic history. Gratefully

[@shawnwillsey]

I love that these videos bring you education and enjoyment. Thanks for your comment and being a loyal viewer.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

That was an excellent intro to Iceland! Thanks!

[@alanmarston8612]

Thank You for taking time and explaining Iceland. At one time I was part of a geo seismic crew that located oil deposits around this crazy world. Thank you!

[@hunt4redoctober628]

Iceland's on my bucket list ...and its only 2hrs flight from the UK. I need to do it.

[@HylanderSB]

Yup...I want to go to Iceland now.

[@themanifestorsmind]

Thank you! I was really trying to understand whats going on in the news, and this is very informative.

[@loisrossi841]

So good, thank you.

[@louiscervantez1639]

Very ‘COOL’ stuff thanks - good mix of cartoon explanation which ‘flowed well’. I liked it and even learned a few tidbits.

[@annettefilt]

traveling to Iceland 12 days from now and this video was grat info thank you very much :))))

[@shawnwillsey]

Enjoy your trip. Iceland is awesome. Be sure to check out all the other Iceland videos I have. There’s even an Iceland playlist.

[@ttonysbirds]

Thank you

[@Laserblade]

Thank you for your time and sharing your expertise professor, very interesting lecture. Looking at the graphic showing the mid-Atlantic ridge, it's easy to imagine where it bisects being the result of the NAP movement west. I enjoyed the sub-glacial eruption sequence and the changing environment's effect on the resulting lava. I've been interested in geology since I looked down and saw a colored rock about 1958. With the database of man at my disposal now, I've been picking channels that feed my curiosity. Glad to find this fine resource.

[@shawnwillsey]

Welcome aboard and enjoy the existing videos. Look for new ones soon from Grand Canyon.

[@doripatrick8057]

Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thank you

[@johnfowler5332]

We are going to Iceland next week. Thanks so much for this excellent video. I get to be an insufferable know it all when we're there 😂👍

[@shawnwillsey]

Have fun!

[@bartjes2509]

Thanks for this learning experience. I've been studying Iceland for tourist sites since 2016 for our first holiday to Iceland in 2017. That was such an intense experience, I consider Iceland my 2nd home since. So many sites get you asking how did that come about being like that ? You showed the map of major faultlines where in fact there are many of these. I have visited Iceland 5 times now and I'm especially intrigued by the Torfajökull / Fjallabak region and Landmannalaugar which is exactly between the major faultlines.

[@shawnwillsey]

Thanks for watching. Iceland is one of my favorite places too. I've been four times. Enjoy more Iceland videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLOf4plee9UzAVyyMEtRTNg2eytaZfkpQO

[@maruillescas6608]

How interesting. Happy Thanksgiving today 2023

[@sharonh667]

A great example of columnar jointing is the Giants Steps in Ireland

[@peterbryson1]

Hey Shawn great continuous insight thanks. Straight to it. Is the uplift rate we see typical of the area or above/below average to basaltic eruptions? Thanks

[@joyleenpoortier7496]

I have to Iceland but I only had 3 days but I really want to go back. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@timpointing]

Hey, Shawn. Another terrific, informative video. Quick couple of questions. When you showed the photo of Herðubreið, it reminded me very much of the flat-topped elevated feature more-or-less north of Selfoss. This seems to have the steep (although not as vertical) cliffs at the top and the ~45 degree slope below that, like the hyaloclastite in your photo. In the case of the feature near Selfoss (Ingólfsfjall), the flat top seems to be much larger (~22 sq km) in proportion to the height (only about 400m.) Might this also be a tuya or is it more likely some other sort of volcanic feature? Another question on Icelandic geology. The hill near Grindavik - Hagafell - has a peculiar shape. It seems to have a nice, gentle slope from the south but the north side of it is a fairly-steep cliff some 60m high. Any ideas on what happened here? Keep these great videos coming!

[@runninonempty820]

Iceland is definitely on my bucket list. Super cool...............and hot too!

[@Anne_Umphrey]

Are you planning another trip to Iceland soon? I have been to Iceland twice, in 2022 and 2023, concentrating on the geology of this fascinating country.I would very much like to go back again with a Geology professor to take an in-depth look at this amazing place. I have a BS in geology many years ago. I worked for the USGS Branch of Astrogeology when they were looking for and choosing the lunar landing sites. I have always been fascinated with volcanology in particular. In recent years after retiring from flying aerial photographers in my own helicopter with my own company, I've begun getting serious about my own photography. Landforms, geologic features as expressed visually, has been of interest. What you can see from the sky whether 200' or 2000' above the ground tells you so much. I hope you will consider another trip, if you have already made the one you are talking about. I want to really know what I have been photographing these past two years. Anne Umphrey

[@shawnwillsey]

Email me at [e-mail] to discuss possible Iceland trip.

[@mustafasaribudak5239]

Great presentation! I think there is a confusion in explaining and understanding the columnar joint along the topography. Vertical and horizontal columns are formed along a horizontal and inclined surfaces, respectively. This point is not clear in the presentation if I am not mistaken. Again, thank you all the great effort bringing this awesome presentation.

[@gopal_kolathu1960]

Wonderful and detailed presentation, thank you Sir. Would you say that the present magma dyke near Grindavik is sort of parallel to the divergent plate margin? If so would that be coincidence or consequence? Even the Fagradallsfjall dyke appears roughly parallel to its Grindavik sibling… The peninsula appears to have several such parallel formations, spaced out over the age of the island as the plates moves apart. At 1cm per year, a million years is 10km, or 6mi, which is not inconsiderable 😊

[@weepingscorpion8739]

So a question about the map at 33:30, I am Faroese myself and I have to admit that I know very little about the geological and glaciological history of our tiny isles. However, I find it interesting that according to that map, there was no ice cap on top of the isles? Now that combined with no extra orange areas (which I assume to be former land area but I could be wrong) it seems that this is because there's no data? Or can you or someone elaborate further on this.

[@danduzenski3597]

The smell of volcanic gases you won’t soon forget.

[@martinnyberg71]

À propos this topic, perhaps you could do a video series on different interesting plate boundaries around the globe? I have, for example, unsuccessfully tried to understand what is known about the plate boundary between North America and Eurasia where it leaves Iceland northward and apparently reemerges again in Siberia. What’s going on there? Or on the other side of the globe, what is feeding Mount Erebus, and what kind of plate boundaries surround Antarctica?😊

[@martinnyberg71]

The mercator projections people usually use to illustrate plate boundaries do not exactly help when trying to understand the polar regions. 😄

[@melvynbuckton6881]

Romans didn't have shields that shape. They had some circular ones occasionally but they appear to be flat.

[@davidk7324]

Diamond beach, with its mini-icebergs, is likely one of only several such beaches in existence where these phenomena occur?

[@shawnwillsey]

Not sure if others exist but black sand beaches and icebergs would be a somewhat rare occurrence.

[@CarlSim-USACAN]

Greetings Shawn... with your permission, id like to re broadcast this video on my YT Iceland live seismic stream 😏

[@shawnwillsey]

Sure. Just be sure to include links to my channel please.

[@CarlSim-USACAN]

thanks... that was fast 😁

[@CarlSim-USACAN]

Playing now... kzbin.infoeihOXL3tDHk?si=qt3fBzo8rU5HYDJX

[@earljohnson2676]

Watching this and seeing how small we are in comparison to what the earth gives us . Makes me think we really don’t belong here we are so fragile and the earth can be so violent it really amazes me . Even looking back in time what have people been around say 200 k years I’m guessing and in earth history that’s nothing like a penny to a hundred dollars bill

[@earljohnson2676]

I’m sorry about to many comments with all this volcanic activity does that produce any valuable minerals like diamonds gold opal whatever? I do enjoy a nice rock hunt and I have a flat lap n make some cabs here n there . I live south of Boston on the coast and our rock selection isn’t the greatest lot of iron based rocks around here

[@3xHermes]

👍

[@danduzenski3597]

Sample the most southern fissure for Breccia. No betting necessary.

[@CrescentMoonPye]

😋Here comes a dumb question... Is that columnar jointing formation what we see in the second-to-last Harry Potter movie [Deathly Hallows Part 1]? There's a scene in a tent where Harry discovers Dumbledore's message on the Snitch and runs out of the tent onto some very strange flat clumped-column-rocks to tell Hermione (who happens to be sitting on those rocks puzzling out her own mystery of the Deathly Hallows symbol). Where was that scene filmed, in Britain or was it possibly Iceland? Either way, the actors are both sitting on the weirdest rock formation I've ever seen, hexagonal columns - like 'field' of them. I've always wondered what formed those. 23:00 Is that what that field of hexagons is in Harry Potter? kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2a7dmyvrp6geJY lol, I know it's a silly thing to ask but it's a really weird, strangely beautiful landscape that almost looks like science fiction landscape. Thanks for the video - very educational! 👍🏻

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

Wow, I never realized it exactly... Iceland is less than 20 million years old. Are there any other land masses that young that come anywhere close to the size of Iceland? I can't think of any... which by no stretch of the imagination means that there aren't any. I just saw something where the Hawaiian Islands, the oldest ones, are a little over 5 million years old. that's pretty young... But Iceland is a vast land by comparison. Far out. Peace.

[@user-pn8it7xm2w]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🌋Di……Cumbria

[@lancerunels852]

Can the gasses be toxic to tourists?

[@shawnwillsey]

Yea if you are downwind.

[@Fryed_Bryce]

I take it the Icelandic language is not Latin based

[@shawnwillsey]

It's pretty brutal. At least for me.

[@georgefrench1907]

👍