Surtsey

American  

[surt-see, soort-sey] / ˈsɜrt si, ˈsʊərt seɪ /

noun

1. an island south of and belonging to Iceland: formed by an undersea volcano 1963. About one mile (1.5 kilometers) in diameter; about 500 feet (150 meters) high.

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Etymology

Origin of Surtsey

First recorded in 1960–65; from Icelandic; literally, “Surt's Island,” equivalent to Surt-, a proper name + -s, genitive singular noun ending + ey “island”; Surt ( def. ), island ( def. )

Example Sentences

When the volcanic island of Surtsey emerged from the North Atlantic Ocean in 1963, it presented scientists with a rare natural experiment: a chance to watch life begin on untouched land.

From Science Daily

Researchers from Iceland, Hungary, and Spain discovered that most of the 78 vascular plant species found on Surtsey since 1965 lack any of the typical features linked to long-distance seed dispersal.

From Science Daily

"Birds turned out to be the true pioneers of Surtsey -- carrying seeds of plants that, according to conventional theories, shouldn't be able to get there," explains Dr. Pawel Wasowicz of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, one of the study's authors.

From Science Daily

The research highlights Surtsey's extraordinary value as a living laboratory where scientists can directly observe the earliest stages of ecosystem development and adaptation.

From Science Daily

"Long-term research like that carried out on Surtsey is invaluable for biology," says Dr. Wasowicz.

From Science Daily