The Future

It is sad to hear it said, but many geologists report that unless activity resumes at Surtsey, the island is likely to disappear in another hundred years. If it were not for the fortunate lava flow first seen on April 4, 1964, Surtsey would probably be gone already.

Dr James Garvin was one of a team of geologists that studied how the heaving sea has affected Surtsey. Speaking in an interview with Earth and Sky, he said "We've seen that Surtsey [as an intact island] has a projected life history ... of perhaps another hundred years. After that ... all that will be left is a series of seastacks with rookeries of birds sitting atop these little fingers that stick out of the ocean."