DESERT

ICY DESERT

The icy wastes of Iceland are often criss-crossed by black lines and cross-hatching. These patterns are the result of the interplay of volcanoes, snow, sun and wind. When one of the many volcanoes in Iceland erupts – which happens every few years – they spew out black volcanic ash. This forms ash clouds high above, which rain onto the glaciers. The wind constantly blows dark dust and sand from the volcanic deserts onto the ice. Snow then covers the carpet of black volcanic ash. In this way, white and black layers settle on top of one another, countless times over. When the ice flows, this layer-cake of dark and light layers slowly moves forwards; the layers bend, press against one another, and buckle. Meanwhile, the sun and wind do their work on the surface. The layered package erodes and is cut away in places. Fresh volcanic dust settles in the fissures of the glacier. This creates unique patterns such as those on the Sidujökull, south Iceland.