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Volcano/Ice Interaction
on Earth and Mars

Overflight

 

If weather permits, a 2 hour overflight is planned during the workshop. It would give participants an opportunity to view from air tuya and ridge landscape, the island of Surtsey, Myrdalsjokull ice cap, Skeidararsandur outwash plain and the sites of recent eruptions in Vatnajokull: Grimsvotn and Gjalp.

 

The flight is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday morning, August 16th. However, weather is unpredictable and overflight might take place on Monday or Tuesday and the affected sessions would then be moved to Wednesday morning.

 

The cost of the overflight will be $220. If weather does not permit an overflight, money will be refunded.

 

Field Excursion

 

A special 2 1/2 day field trip will be organized.  It will focus on the remains of subglacial volcanism in South Iceland, including basaltic and rhyolitic pillow lavas and hyaloclastites and flood deposits and landforms created in jokulhlaups caused by subglacial eruptions.  Special emphasis will be put on thorough site inspections at a few well chosen localities, under the guidance of experts.  If well attended, it should provide an unique opportunity for researchers to discuss the workshop topics in the field.

 

Day 1:  The group will leave Reykjavik on August 16. Visits to the flood plains of Skogasandur and Myrdalssandur. Inspection of landforms and deposits left by catastrophic floods caused by eruptions within the Myrdalsjokull ice cap (Katla eruptions), the latest occurred in 1918. Overnight at Skogar close to the ice capped volcanoes Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull.

 

Day 2:  Passing along the Laki lava flow of 1783, the route to the north of Myrdalsjokull is taken into the Torfajokull area, the largest rhyolitic area in Iceland. Subglacially erupted rhyolitic lava lobes and hyaloclastite tuffs will be studied at one or two chosen localities. On the way to the hotel the route passes the volcano Hekla. Overnight at Laugarvatn.

 

Day 3:  The day will be used to study basic hyaloclastites and subglacial landforms in the area to the south of Langjokull glacier. It has several tuyas, hyaloclastite ridges and shield volcanoes. Subglacially formed sections at Hlodufell and Tindaskagi will be examined. On the way to Reykjavik the route passes Thingvellir, the site of the old parliament Althingi, founded in 930. It is also a rift graben type locality. Good views to hyaloclastite ridges partly buried in Holocene lavas.

 

Cost: $440. Includes bus transportation, accommodation (two nights in double rooms), meals and a tour guide.

 

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