On November 14, 1963 an undersea eruption was observed about 20 kilometers
southwest of Heimaey. This eruption originated at a depth of 130 meters.
During the explosive phase (when lava interacted with seawater) the steam
and ash cloud (which was probably acidic) contaminated the water supply caught
on the roofs in Vestmannaeyjar. Vestmannaeyjar was the closest town to the
eruption, 22 km to the northest of Surtsey. It was a fairly small eruption
and probably did not have an effect on the weather. Noted were three phases:
1. an underwater buildup (days or weeks)
2. explosive shallow-water eruptions to build an island (Nov. 14, 1963-April
1964)
3. the quite emmisiion of lava flows (April 1964-June 1967).
An island eventually rose to a height of 169 meters above sea level that
had an area of 2500 square kilometers. This island was named Surtsey. For
three and a half years, Surtsey rumbled and lava flowed. Long before the
eruption stopped, the island was proclaimed a nature preservation and all
travel to there was restricted to scientists that used this unique opportunity
to study the gradual development of life on a sterile landmass.
The first living things were found in the ask deposits close to shore. By
1987, twenty five species of higher plants had been observed, transported
there by seed in the sea currents, some from nearby island, others from the
southern Icelandic coast 40 kilometers off.