Volcano
... point. As the lava mixed with the sea water it slowly built up to the surface. Once the eruptions reached the surface a tuff ring was formed by the material ejected in the eruptions. This allowed a vent to form and the eruptions began to show as ash and steam were ejected into the sky. Over the next four years the eruptions continued and a new island was formed. But it was not as peaceful as it seemed. Soon after the eruptions began a team visited the island but was only to stay a few minutes because earthquakes were rampant and the eruptions picked up. The tiny island is only really made up of ash, and because of its composition it is very unstable. Each year more and more of the island is washed away by the sea and the elements. If the pace of the erosion keeps up the island will only be visible for another hundred years. That is of course barring another eruption. The volcano that lies beneath the island is still considered active, even though it has not erupted for nearly forty years. Even though the island is uninhabitable by humans, many species of birds and plants inhabit the island. It has become a sort of research station for scientists to study the formation of volcanic islands in a way that was previously unavailable. This research has led scientists to change some of their theories about how the earth was formed. (Surtsey) Along with this remarkable growth of an ecosystem come many risks. As the first people to visit the infant island realized it is a very unstable place. Since it is just made of ash from the volcano it is very loose and susceptible to earthquakes. Also the erosion that is taking place is slowly eating away at the island. In addition to the eruption...