Earth Science 7-Europe/Iceland 8

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Earth Science 7-Regions

Countries

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Norway
• Finland
• Russia
• Monaco
• Malta
• Italy
• France
• Spain
• San Marino
• Portugal
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• Belgium
• Switzerland
• Luxembourg
• Liechtenstein
• Austria
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Poland
• Lithuania
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Romania
• Moldova
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Slovenia
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Turkey
• Armenia
• Greece
• Albania
• Bulgaria
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Macedonia
• Yugoslavia
• Armenia
• Georgia
• Kosovo
• Serbia
• Azerbaijan
• Montenegro

Elevations

Highest Elevation: Mt. Elbrus 5,642 m Lowest Elevation: Caspian Sea 28 m below sea level

Latitude and Longitude range

48° 41' 27" N / 9° 8' 26" E

Iceland

65° 0' 0" N / 18° 0' 0" W

Prevailing Winds

Europe

The winds in Europe are mostly Prevailing Westerlies These Westerlies bring mild maritime air from the Atlantic but prevent cold arctic air from reaching Europe.

Iceland

The winds in Iceland are mostly Prevailing Easterlies. Westerlies are very infrequent. Wind speed tend to be higher in the highlands, but topographic features may change the strength and speed of winds in lowland areas.

Major Topographic Features

Mountain Ranges

• Kjolen Moutains
• Ural Mountains
• The Alps
• Carpathian Mountains
• Balkan Mountains
• Apennines Mountains
• Dinacarie Mountains
• Caucasus Mountains
• Pyrenees Mountains

Plains

• Meseta in Spain (the high plains of Spain)
• Great Hungarian Plain
• North European

Plateaus

• Massif Central
• Mesata
• Plateaus and Lowlands throughout France, Germany, and Czech Republic
• Central Russian Upland

Other

• Atlantic Highlands
• Scandanavian Shield

Major Bodies of Water

Seas

• Barents Sea
• White Sea
• Norwegian Sea
• North Sea
• Sea of the Hebrides
• Irish Sea
• Celtic Sea
• Adriatic Sea
• Aegean Sea
• Black Sea
• Sea of Azov
• Sea of Crete
• Ionian Sea
• Mediterranean Sea
• Thyrhenian Sea
• Balearic Sea
• Ligurian Sea
• Sea of Marmara
• Aborian Sea
• Baltic Sea
• Caspian Sea
• North Sea

Straits and Channels

• St. Georg's Channel
• Bristol Channel
• Strait of Dover
• English Channel
• Bospurus Strait
• Strait of Gibraltar

Gulfs

• Gulf of Bothania
• Skagerrak
• Gulf of Finland
• Gulf of Riga
• Gulf of Venice

Bays

• Kattegat
• Bay of Biscal

Rivers

• Volga
• Danube
• Ural
• Dnieper
• Don
• Pechora
• Northern Dvina – Vychegda
• Dniester
• Rhine
• Elbe
• Vistula
• Tagus
• Daugava
• Loire
• Tisza
• Sava
• Neman
• Meuse
• Ebro
• Douro
• Kuban
• Mezen
• Oder
• Neva – Svir – Suna
• Rhône
• Seine
• Mureş
• Drava
• Guadiana
• Prut
• Po

Bordering Oceans

• Atlantic Ocean
• Arctic Ocean

Iceland

• Bordering Waters
  • Norwegian Sea
  • Atlantic Ocean

Bodies of water

• Apavatn
• Arnarvatn
• Bardarlaug
• Botnstjörn
• Crater lakes of Iceland
• Frostastaõavatn
• Frozen lakes of Iceland
• Glacial lakes of Iceland
• Grænavatn
• Hagavatn
• Kleifarvatn
• Lambavatn
• Laugarvatn
• Ljósavatn
• Mývatn
• Màsvatn
• Skiõyvatn
• Tjörnin
• Vesturhopsvatn
• Víti
• Álftavatn
• Úlfljótsvatn
• Þingvallavatn

Average Temperature (Fahrenheit)and Precipitation (inches)

Norway

• Temp: Jan:32 Feb:32 Mar:35 Apr:39 May:46 Jun:52 Jul:56 Aug:56 Sep:50 Oct:43 Nov:37 Dec:33
• Precip: Jan:2.3 Feb:1.8 Mar:1.9 Apr:1.9 May:2.4 Jun:3.1 Jul:3.2 Aug:3.7 Sep:3.6 Oct:3.6 Nov:3.4 Dec:2.6

Sweden

• Temp: Jan:27 Feb:26 Mar:32 Apr:39 May:51 Jun:58 Jul:63 Aug:61 Sep:52 Oct:43 Nov:35 Dec:28
• Precip: Jan:1.9 Feb:1.2 Mar:1.2 Apr:1.4 May:1.9 Jun:1.9 Jul:2.6 Aug:3.1 Sep:2.9 Oct:2.4 Nov:2.4 Dec:1.9

Finland

• Temp: Jan:22 Feb:21 Mar:28 Apr:38 May:50 Jun:57 Jul:62 Aug:59 Sep:50 Oct:41 Nov:32 Dec:25
• Precip: Jan:1.8 Feb:1.4 Mar:1.4 Apr:1.5 May:1.7 Jun:1.8 Jul:2.4 Aug:2.9 Sep:2.6 Oct:2.7 Nov:2.6 Dec:2.2

Latvia

• Temp: Jan:28 Feb:26 Mar:32 Apr:39 May:50 Jun:57 Jul:62 Aug:60 Sep:55 Oct:46 Nov:37 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:1.7 Feb:1.1 Mar:1.4 Apr:1.4 May:1.5 Jun:1.8 Jul3.0 Aug:3.0 Sep:2.9 Oct:3.2 Nov:3.5 Dec:2.4

Russia

• Temp: Jan:16 Feb:18 Mar:28 Apr:42 May:54 Jun:60 Jul:63 Aug:60 Sep:50 Oct:39 Nov:28 Dec:21
• Precip: Jan:1.4 Feb:1.1 Mar:1.3 Apr:1.5 May:2.0 Jun:2.6 Jul:3.2 Aug:2.8 Sep:2.3 Oct:2 Nov:1.7 Dec:1.7

Ukraine

• Temp: Jan:32 Feb:32 Mar:35 Apr:48 May:59 Jun:68 Jul:73 Aug:71 Sep:60 Oct:50 Nov:42 Dec:35
• Precip: Jan:1.5 Feb:1.1 Mar:1.1 Apr:1.0 May:2.0 Jun:2.4 Jul:1.3 Aug:1.1 Sep:1.1 Oct:0.7 Nov:1.4 Dec:1.3

Belarus

• Temp: Jan:22 Feb:23 Mar:32 Apr:43 May:55 Jun:60 Jul:63 Aug:62 Sep:53 Oct:4U3 Nov:33 Dec:26
• Precip: Jan:1.7 Feb:1.5 Mar:1.5 Apr:1.8 May:2.3 Jun:3.2 Jul:3.5 Aug:3.2 Sep:2.3 Oct:1.8 Nov:2.0 Dec:1.9

Poland

• Temp: Jan:29 Feb:29 Mar:37 Apr:46 May:56 Jun:61 Jul:64 Aug:64 Sep:56 Oct:47 Nov:37 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:1.1 Feb:1.0 Mar:1.2 Apr:1.5 May:2.0 Jun:2.6 Jul:3.0 Aug:2.8 Sep:1.8 Oct:1.6 Nov:1.5 Dec:1.4

Czech Republic

• Temp: Jan:29 Feb:30 Mar:39 Apr:45 May:55 Jun:60 Jul:63 Aug:63 Sep:57 Oct:47 Nov:37 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:0.8 Feb:0.7 Mar:1.0 Apr:1.4 May:2.3 Jun:2.7 Jul:2.6 Aug:2.5 Sep:1.6 Oct:1.2 Nov:1.1 Dec:0.9

Hungary

• Temp: Jan:30 Feb:32 Mar:39 Apr:50 May:59 Jun:66 Jul:68 Aug:66 Sep:59 Oct:50 Nov:41 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:1.4 Feb:1.3 Mar:1.5 Apr:1.7 May:2.4 Jun:2.5 Jul:2.6 Aug:2.4 Sep:1.8 Oct:2.0 Nov:1.9 Dec:1.8

Romania

• Temp: Jan:30 Feb:32 Mar:42 Apr:52 May:62 Jun:68 Jul:72 Aug:71 Sep:64 Oct:53 Nov:40 Dec:33
• Precip: Jan:1.7 Feb:1.5 Mar:1.4 Apr:1.8 May:2.6 Jun:3.4 Jul:2.2 Aug:2.2 Sep:1.4 Oct:1.1 Nov:1.8 Dec:1.6

Bulgaria

• Temp: Jan:36 Feb:40 Mar:44 Apr:53 May:62 Jun:69 Jul:73 Aug:74 Sep:67 Oct:57 Nov:49 Dec:42
• Precip: Jan:2.3 Feb:1.2 Mar:2.0 Apr:2.6 May:3.1 Jun:2.5 Jul:0.9 Aug:0.7 Sep:1.4 Oct:2.8 Nov:2.7 Dec:3.7

Turkey

• Temp: Jan:42 Feb:42 Mar:46 Apr:54 May:62 Jun:70 Jul:74 Aug:74 Sep:69 Oct:61 Nov:52 Dec:46
• Precip: Jan:3.7 Feb:2.8 Mar:2.3 Apr:1.7 May:1.2 Jun:0.9 Jul:0.7 Aug:0.6 Sep:1.1 Oct:2.1 Nov:3.5 Dec:3.8

Greece

• Temp: Jan:50 Feb:50 Mar:54 Apr:59 May:67 Jun:75 Jul:81 Aug:81 Sep:75 Oct:67 Nov:59 Dec:53
• Precip: Jan:4.4 Feb:3.5 Mar:2.9 Apr:1.9 May:1.1 Jun:0.3 Jul:0.1 Aug:0.4 Sep:1.2 Oct:3.6 Nov:5.5 Dec:6.0

Croatia

• Temp: Jan:44 Feb:46 Mar:50 Apr:55 May:64 Jun:71 Jul:77 Aug:77 Sep:69 Oct:60 Nov:53 Dec:46
• Precip: Jan:3.2 Feb:2.6 Mar:2.7 Apr:2.4 May:1.6 Jun:1.5 Jul:1.0 Aug:1.5 Sep:2.4 Oct:3.5 Nov:3.9 Dec:4

Macedonia

• Temp: Jan:32 Feb:38 Mar:46 Apr:54 May:62 Jun:69 Jul:73 Aug:73 Sep:66 Oct:56 Nov:43 Dec:35
• Precip: Jan:1.5 Feb:1.4 Mar:1.6 Apr:1.5 May:2.3 Jun:1.9 Jul:1.4 Aug:1.1 Sep:1.4 Oct:1.8 Nov:2.3 Dec:1.8

Austria

• Temp: Jan:27 Feb:31 Mar:40 Apr:49 May:57 Jun:63 Jul:66 Aug:66 Sep:60 Oct:48 Nov:39 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:3.0 Feb:1.0 Mar:1.1 Apr:1.4 May:3.0 Jun:3.3 Jul:5.8 Aug:3.1 Sep:1.8 Oct:1.2 Nov:1.7 Dec:0.9

Italy

• Temp: Jan:48 Feb:48 Mar:52 Apr:56 May:64 Jun:71 Jul:76 Aug:76 Sep:71 Oct:63 Nov:54 Dec:50
• Precipe: Jan:3.8 Feb:3.2 Mar:3.0 Apr:3.0 May:2.0 Jun:1.5 Jul:0.9 Aug:1.2 Sep:3.1 Oct:5.2 Nov:5.0 Dec:4.7

Germany

• Temp: Jan:34 Feb:36 Mar:43 Apr:48 May:57 Jun:62 Jul:66 Aug:66 Sep:59 Oct:50 Nov:41 Dec:37
• Precip: Jan:1.8 Feb:1.6 Mar:2.1 Apr:2.3 May:2.4 Jun:2.9 Jul:2.4 Aug:2.9 Sep:2.1 Oct:2.2 Nov:2.3 Dec:2.2

Denmark

• Temp: Jan:33 Feb:32 Mar:37 Apr:43 May:53 Jun:59 Jul:62 Aug:62 Sep:56 Oct:49 Nov:41 Dec:36
• Precip: Jan:1.7 Feb:1.0 Mar:1.4 Apr:1.6 May:1.7 Jun:2.1 Jul:2.6 Aug:2.9 Sep:2.0 Oct:2.1 Nov:2.1 Dec:2.0

France

• Temp: Jan:37 Feb:38 Mar:44 Apr:49 May:55 Jun:60 Jul:64 Aug:63 Sep:59 Oct:51 Nov:42 Dec:37
• Precip: Jan:2.2 Feb:1.8 Mar:1.6 Apr:1.7 May:2.2 Jun:2.4 Jul:2.3 Aug:2.6 Sep:2.2 Oct:2.1 Nov:2.3 Dec:2.3

Netherlands

• Temp: Jan:38 Feb:37 Mar:43 Apr:47 May:54 Jun:59 Jul:62 Aug:62 Sep:58 Oct:51 Nov:44 Dec:40
• Precip: Jan:3.1 Feb:1.7 Mar:3.5 Apr:1.5 May:2.0 Jun:2.4 Jul:2.9 Aug:2.4 Sep:3.2 Oct:4.1 Nov:3.0 Dec:2.8

United Kingdom

• Temp: Jan:37 Feb:38 Mar:42 Apr:47 May:52 Jun:57 Jul:61 Aug:61 Sep:56 Oct:50 Nov:43 Dec:39
• Precip: Jan:1.7 Feb:1.5 Mar:1.5 Apr:1.3 May:1.9 Jun:2.1 Jul:2.2 Aug:2.4 Sep:1.5 Oct:2.6 Nov:1.9 Dec:2.2

Ireland

• Temp: Jan:42 Feb:41 Mar:42 Apr:46 May:50 Jun:55 Jul:57 Aug:59 Sep:55 Oct:51 Nov:46 Dec:44
• Precip: Jan:3.7 Feb:2.7 Mar:2.7 Apr:2.2 May:2.2 Jun:2.0 Jul:2.1 Aug:2.9 Sep:3.1 Oct:3.7 Nov:3.9 Dec:3.8

Iceland

• Temp: Jan:31 Feb:33 Mar:33 Apr:37 May:43 Jun:48 Jul:52 Aug:51 Sep:45 Oct:40 Nov:35 Dec:32
• Precip: Jan:3.4 Feb:2.9 Mar:3.0 Apr:2.2 May:1.7 Jun:1.8 Jul:2.0 Aug:2.4 Sep:2.8 Oct:3.5 Nov:3.3 Dec:3.3

Spain

• Temp: Jan:42 Feb:45 Mar:49 Apr:53 May:60 Jun:69 Jul:76 Aug:76 Sep:69 Oct:58 Nov:49 Dec:44
• Precip: Jan:1.8 Feb:1.7 Mar:1.5 Apr:1.8 May:1.6 Jun:1.0 Jul:0.4 Aug:0.4 Sep:1.2 Oct:1.8 Nov:2.5 Dec:1.9

Koppen Classification System

• Very Southern Europe- bright green, Csa, warm temperature, summer dry, and hot summer
• A sliver of Southern Europe- light green-Csb, Warm temperature, dry summer, and warm summer
• Patches of Southern Europe- very dark green- Cfa, Warm temperature, fully humid, hot summer
• Central/most of Euorpe- dark green- Cfb, warm temperature, full humid, warm summer
• North East Europe- purple- Dfb, snow, fully humid, warm summer
• Northern Europe- dark pink- Dfc, snow, fully humid, cool summer
• Sliver of Northern Europe and all of Icleland- ET, polar, polar tundra

• Europe is at a high lattitude, so you would expect it to be very cold, but warm ocean currents blow around Europe, so the temperature stays mild. Also, there are a bunch of Mountain Ranges (The Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians,Balkan, Rhodopes)in southern Europe. These mountain ranges cause southern Europe to be hot and arid, while northern central Europe is humid and warm. Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Finland) is very cold because it is so close to the arctic circle and so far away from the equator. It is also very moist because lows usually sit at the north west end of europe, allowing moisture to collect, and a hight usually sits towards the south of europe, making less room for water in the air. Prevailing winds blow up from the south past England and northern Europe, bringing warm air with them, causing these areas to be warm, or warmer than they would be, despite their high altitude. In the North West part of Europe, there is a mountain range causing that area to have a high elevation. Since temperature decreases as altitude (elevation) increases, that area has a Polar climate, which is different than the area surrounding it. Also, there is a mountain range (high elevation) in southern Europe. This area is a region of Polar and a region of Snow. the area surrounding this mountain range does not have a high elevation, and contrastly has a warm temperature. Most of Europe, exept for a sliver in the south, has a very humid climate. This is because there is an ocean right next to Europe.
• Iceland is very near the arctic circle, so due to it's elevation, it is cold. However, on the east of iceland there is a warm ocean current blowing up towards iceland. That is why there is a sliver of warm regions on the south side of Iceland. On the other hand, there is a cold ocean current coming from the northwest side of Iceland. There is a low pressure system that hangs out around iceland, so there is moisture. Iceland is a polar tundra, and because the frozen water can not sink into the ground, it supportst mosses, lichens, and shrubs. Prevailing winds blowing from the North East side of Iceland to Iceland bring down cold air, causing Iceland to be colder. However, there is a prevailing wind that blows from the South West to Iceland, bringing warm air with it. This causes a sliver of the South West side of Iceland to be warmer. The most of and central part of Iceland is a mountain. This causes a high elevation. This is a factor of why Iceland is so cold. The very South West side of Iceland does not have a high elevation. It is a little bit warmer than the rest of Iceland because of this. Iceland is very humid because it is surrounded by water.

Geology

Minerals

• Iron
  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • Russia
• Uranium
  • France
• Silver
  • Spain
• Oil
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • Romania
• Lead/Zinc
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Poland
• Bauxite
  • Hungary
• Coal
  • Spain
  • France
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • Russia
• Copper
  • Ukraine
  • Slovakia

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Rock Types

Scandinavia

The Scandinavian region is very mountainous. Because mountains are formed by pressure, the majority of the Scandinavian region is composed of Metamorphic rock. There is a strip of igneous rock in the lower western part of it. This is possibly due to plutons (batholiths). It could also possibly be from a volcano that is now extinct.

England

Most of England is composed of sedimentary rock. This is probably because everything that was there was eroded away, and the remaining sediments compacted together to form new sedimentary rock. Northern England is still metamorphic because it is like the base of the mountain. It is similar to a volcanic neck. (The rest of the metamorphic rock eroded away, but that part is still there). There are little pockets of Igneous rock. On the map above, some are marked as red. These are intrusive, and were formed by batholiths. There is also dark purple spots. These rocks are extrusive, formed by volcanic eruptions.

Western Europe

Western Europe is a mish-mash of a lot of different rock types. Along tectonic plates Western Europe is mostly composed of igneous or metamorphic rock this is because of old volcanoes or mountain building along the boulders. Western Europe also contains lots of sedimentary rock this is because Western Europe is surrounded by the British isle and Mediterranean sea and the igneous and metamorphic erodes away turning most of the coast line into beaches and plains of sedimentary rock.

Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is mostly composed of igneous and metamorphic rock types. Small parts are sedimentary. It may be igneous and metamorphic because of a fault line running slightly south of all of Europe. Some volcanoes reside south of Europe, mostly along the fault line, but also some a bit higher. A range of mountains (Ural Mountains) separates Europe from Asia, also causing metamorphism as the land pushed together to create the mountain range. (Refer to picture under Western Europe for full map)

Iceland

Iceland sits on a fault line. There are many volcanoes in Iceland. The eruption of a volcano probably led to the formation of Iceland. This means that Iceland would be made up of igneous extrusive rock. However, These eruptions happened a very long time ago. Over time, however, these rocks were eroded away. The sediments were cemented together, and that is why Iceland is mainly composed of Sedimentary rock.

Mining resources

Iceland

In 2002, diatomite was the leading export in Iceland. In 2001, 28,000 tons of diatomite came from Lake Myvatn. Other minerals mined in Iceland include: hydraulic cement, nitrogen, pumice, salt, scoria, spar, sulfur, peat, lignite, and aluminum.

Scandinavia

Iron and steel comprise Sweden's top mining industry. Iron-ore production in 2000 in Sweden was 12.75 million tons (metal content). Lead, copper, zinc, gold, and silver are also mined in Sweden. Bismuth, cobalt, and huge quantities of arsenic are also found in Sweden. Sweden also produces hydraulic cement, kaolin clay, feldspar, fertilizer, graphite, lime, quartz, quartzite, dimension and crushed stone (including dolomite, granite (for domestic use and for export), limestone, sandstone, and slate), sulfur, and soapstone talc. Marble and ilmenite are also found in Sweden. Finland mines chromite, foundry sand, copper, nickel, zinc, feldspar, lime, nitrogen, phosphate rock, pyrite, sodium sulfate, limestone, dolomite, granite, quartz silica sand, soapstone, sulfur, talc, and wollastonite. Silver, iron, and copper are important exports in Norway. Iron pyrites and iron ore are mined in considerable quantities in Norway. Norway also produces nickel, hydraulic cement, dolomite, feldspar, graphite, lime (hydrated, quicklime), limestone, flake mica, nepheline syenite, nitrogen, olivine sand, quartz, quartzite, soapstone, steatite, sulfur (as a byproduct), and talc.

Plate tectonics

All of Europe is on the Eurasian Plate besides Iceland, which is half in the Eurasian Plate and half on the North American plate. Many earthquakes and volcanoes are caused by the plates' movements. The western side of the plate is divergent, which accounts for many volcanoes and earthquakes caused by the movements at the Mid-Ocean ridge.

Boundary Types

Europe is on the Eurasian plate, and its boundary with the North American plate to the west is a divergent boundary.

Margin Types

Europe

Passive margins happen in the interior of the plate, away from the plate boundaries. Europe has passive margins on the western, northwestern, northern, northeastern, and eastern sides and they are not along the boundary. Active margins happen along plate boundaries and the southwestern and southern Europe is along the plate boundary, which would make them active margins.

Iceland

Since Iceland is split in two by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the center of the country is along an active continental margin.

Volcanoes

Iceland

There are volcanoes in North, South, West, and a few in East Iceland. The majority of these volcanoes are right along the mid ocean ridge, however, there are a few that are not directly along the mid-ocean ridge, but are formed because of that. Vulcanism in Iceland is extremely diverse for an island, because it features nearly every volcano type. Throughout history, Basaltic, Rhyolitic, and Andesitic eruptions have been recorded. The rift zones in Iceland contain alignments of volcanic fissure swarms, and with time they develop into central volcanoes, and can produce magma with a medium to high silica content.

• Recent Eruptions
  • 2011 Grímsvötn
  • 2010 Eyjafjallajökull
  • 2004 Grímsvötn
  • 2000 Hekla
  • 1998 Grímsvötn
  • 1996 Gjálp
  • 1991 Hekla
  • 1984 Krafla
  • 1983 Grímsvötn
  • 1981 Krafla 2 eruptions
  • 1981 Hekla
  • 1980 Hekla
  • 1980 Krafla 3 eruptions
  • 1977 Krafla 2 eruptions
  • 1975 Krafla
  • 1973 subaquatic eruption 5 km south of Landeyjar coast
  • 1973 Heimaey
  • 1970 Hekla
  • 1963-1967 Surtsey
  • 1961 Askja
  • 1947 Hekla
  • 1938 Grímsvötn
  • 1934 Grímsvötn
  • 1933 Grímsvötn
  • 1929 Askja
  • 1927 Askja
  • 1926 northeast of Eldey
  • 1924 Askja
  • 1923 Askja
  • 1922 Askja 2 eruptions
  • 1922 Grímsvötn
  • 1921 Askja
  • 1918 Katla
  • 1913 Austan Heklu
  • 1910 Þórðarhyrna
  • 1903 Þórðarhyrna
  • 1902 Grímsvötn

• Eruptions with Historical significance
  • Skaftáreldar, Iceland's most fatal volcanic eruption, lasted from 1783 to 1784
  • Eyjafjallajokull 2010, shut down airports
  • Grímsvötn 2004, volcanic ash was spewed up and spread as far as mainland Europe, 2011 ash spewed into air, but was 10x worse than the 2004 eruption

Spain

The Olot Volcanic Field is a bunch of pyroclastic cones associated with basaltic lava flows. Located in the Pyrenees Mountains, In the NE corner of Spain. The last eruption was 1100 years ago. The Olot Volcanic Field is the Only volcano/volcano chain in Spain.

France

The Chaîne des Puys is located in central France. It consists of Cinder Cones, Lava domes, and maars. It was formed by continental rift valley. It consists of Basalitc andRhyolitic magma. The last eruption was about 6000 years ago, none with any significance.

Italy

There is a volcanic arc on the western coast of Italy due to the Subduction of the African plate under the Eurasian plate. The volcanoes have andesitic magma.

• Recent eruptions
  • Mount Etna, continuous eruption
  • Stromboli, continuous eruption
  • Mt. Vesuvius, 1944
• Eruptions with Historical significance
  • Vesuvius, AD 79, completely destroyed Pompeii
  • Mt. Etna, 1669, killed more than 20,000 people

Greece

There is a volcanic island arc on the southeastern part of greece because of the subduction of the Arabian Plate under the Eurasian plate. The magma is basaltic/andesitic.

• Recent eruptions
  • Santorini, 1950
• Eruptions with Historical Significance
  • Santorini, 1470 B.C., Destroyed Minoan civilization

Germany

West Eifel Volcanic Field is located in Western Germany in the Rhineland. Consists of Maars and Pyroclastic cones. The last known eruption was in 8300 B.C., and there have been none of historical significance.

Earthquakes

Seismic Hazard Map [[1]]

Earthquake Data (1986-2005)

There have been earthquakes in Europe caused by the movement of the Eurasian plate. Their depths tend to be 0-200 kilometers below the surface, but mostly 0-50 kilometers. Earthquakes tend to be in the south of Europe, near the plate boundary, but there have been three reported in Romania, one in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one in Italy. Three have been recorded in Iceland.

All depths below are in kilometers

Earthquakes in Iceland

• Year:1987

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 7

• Year: 2000

Magnitude: 6.8

Depth: 10

• Year: 2000

Magnitude: 6.8

Depth: 10

Earthquakes in Romania

• Year: 1986

Magnitude: 6.9

Depth: 132

• Year: 1990

Magnitude: 7.1

Depth: 81

• Year: 1990

Magnitude: 6.5

Depth: 88

Earthquakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Year: 1996

Magnitude:6.1

Depth: 10

Earthquakes in Italy

• Year: 1997

Magnitude: 6.4

Depth: 10

Earthquakes in Greece

• Year: 1990

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 13

• Year: 1992

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 14

• Year: 1994

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 76

• Year: 1995

Magnitude:6.8

Depth: 14

• Year: 1995

Magnitude:6.5

Depth: 14

• Year: 1996

Magnitude: 6.2

Depth: 33

• Year: 1996

Magnitude: 6.6

Depth: 33

• Year: 1997

Magnitude: 6.6

Depth: 10

Earthquakes in Turkey

• Year:1992

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 17

• Year: 1992

Magnitude: 6.9

Depth: 27

• Year: 1992

Magnitude: 6.3

Depth: 20

• Year: 1995

Magnitude: 6.4

Depth: 33

• Year:1996

Magnitude: 6.2

Depth: 33

• Year: 1997

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 17

• Year: 1998

Magnitude: 7.8

Depth: 17

• Year: 1998

Magnitude: 6.3

Depth: 33

• Year: 1999

Magnitude: 7.5

Depth: 10

• Year: 2000

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 10

• Year: 2002

Magnitude: 6.5

Depth: 5

• Year: 2003

Magnitude: 6.4

Depth: 10

Earthquakes in the Mediterranean Sea

• Year: 1996

Magnitude: 6.9

Depth: 33

• Year: 1996

Magnitude: 6.2

Depth: 33

• Year: 1997

Magnitude: 6.6

Depth: 33

• Year: 1997

Magnitude: 6.6

Depth: 24

• Year: 2002

Magnitude: 6.2

Depth: 88

• Year: 2004

Magnitude: 6.1

Depth: 24

Significant Past Earthquakes

• 1356: Basel (epicenter in Northern Switzerland)

Magnitude: 6.2-6.5 Mw (moment magnitude)

Significance: most significant seismological event to have occurred in Central Europe in recorded history; 1,000 killed; damage even caused in France and Germany

• 1428: Catalonia (epicenter in Northwestern Spain)

Magnitude: 6.7

Significance: Killed hundreds of people

• 1590: Neulengbach (epicenter in Northeastern Austria)

Magnitude: 5.5-6.0

Significance: Strongest recorded earthquake in Northeastern Austria; many buildings damaged beyond repair

• 1667: Dubrovnik (epicenter in Southwestern Croatia)

Magnitude: X MCS (disastrous)

Significance: Killed 3,000 people; one of two most devastating earthquakes to hit area of modern Croatia in the last 2,400 years

• 1880: Zagreb (epicenter in Medvednica mountain; Northern Croatia)

Magnitude: 8.0

Significance: only one person killed, but over 1,750 buildings damaged

Types of rock/relationship to tectonic activity

Iceland

Iceland has a divergent boundary running through it so it is mostly basaltic rock.

Europe

Southern Europe is on a convergent boundary which means that its rock is mostly made up of felsic magma.