Continuing subsidence and deformation of the Surtsey volcano, Iceland

Surtsey, a volcanic island formed off Iceland's coast between 1963 and 1967, continues to experience significant subsidence. Since its formation, the island has sunk by approximately 1 meter, with recent GPS surveys (2000–2023) revealing an average subsidence rate of 3.8 mm per year, totaling 9 cm over this period. About two-thirds of this subsidence is attributed to compaction of sedimentary and volcaniclastic material, thermal contraction, and palagonization, while the remaining third is due to the island's loading on the asthenosphere. The study also confirms that Surtsey moves horizontally with the Eurasian plate, providing insights into the dynamic processes shaping volcanic islands.

Sturkell, E., Einarsson, P., Geirsson, H., Hjartardóttir, Á., Islam, T., Moores, J., Lanzi, C., Valsson, G., & Sigmundsson, F. (2025). Continuing subsidence and deformation of the Surtsey volcano, Iceland. Surtsey Research, 16(1), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.33112/surtsey.16.10