Illustrated geomorphic classification of Icelandic volcanoes

Abstract

In 1959, Sigurdur Thorarinsson published his first complete classification of the 13 principal types of basaltic volcanoes of Iceland (Figure 1). In 1968, Thorarinsson published a modification of his earlier classification scheme. Both landform classifications were based on the relationship of the type of eruptive products (lava, lava and tephra, or tephra), number of eruptions (one or more than one), and the form of the eruptive vent (circular or linear). Aside from changing the type locality of one of the lava landforms (e.g., Trengslaborgir instead of Svörtuborgir), and deleting the lava fissure (e.g., Ö gmundargj á ) the two landforms classifications were very similar. Thorarinsson, in 1968, had, however) settled on 12 rather than 13 basic types of basaltic volcanoes of Iceland.