I am a geologist, graduated from the University of Iceland, and taught geology for a few years. I have gained some knowledge about Earth's inner structure, so I provide this website as my contribution to answer one of the greatest questions remaining within the realm of geoscience. Experiments show that the mantle should form convection rolls when close to the melting point. I took this literally, and calculated the dimensions and shape of these mantle convection rolls. Then I compare that model with the surface. This makes it possible to provide many interesting examples about geology found on my blog.
A famous eruption occurred in 1918 of Katla Volcano in South Iceland and triggered the largest flood known on Earth in recent times. Today, a river flows through the area, called Múlakvísl. The very root of that river is originated from an ice cave, known as the Katla Ice Cave in the tourist industry. This is the opening of the cave:
The location of the glacial toungue of Kötlujökull can be studied on this map:
Looking closer at Kötlujökull, we find the location of the cave opening:
The most interesting sites are there for a reason. In the case of Kötlujökull, the inner forces meet with the outer forces of snow, ice and water flow. Here the similar conditions for shaping Barnafoss, Geysir and Hekla are mentioned. Barnafoss is shown here below:
Systematic measurement and compilation of data form the foundation of scientific work. However, over time, such efforts can also foster new perspectives on existing information—perspectives that may lead to fresh discoveries and innovation. Geothermal exploration relies on a range of data: knowledge of fractures, heat gradients, aquifers, thermal conductivity, surface water chemistry, and more. Based on this information, a well is drilled, and if conditions are favorable, hot water can be extracted from the ground.
The Convection Rolls Model offers an additional, indirect method to complement these approaches. By understanding tectonic drift vectors and recognizing that the boundaries between mantle convection rolls also influence divisions within the overlying tectonic plates, we gain a new framework for selecting promising geothermal sites. Iceland provides a compelling case study.
The map below shows the distribution of high- and low-temperature geothermal areas in Iceland. High-temperature zones are typically located near the boundaries of convection rolls, with a strong spatial correlation. In contrast, low-temperature zones tend to cluster within defined polygonal regions, also showing resemblance with the convection roll structure.
Map from Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands, (Icelandic Institute of Natural History).
To identify new geothermal sites, a logical first step is to explore the intersections of convection roll boundary lines. Next, examining the distribution of known geothermal sites within the defined polygons may reveal consistent patterns — patterns that could guide the discovery of additional sites. However, this approach should be used in conjunction with established geological exploration methods to minimize the risk of error. The map, along with its scientific foundation, serves as a complementary tool to enhance the efficiency of land-based geothermal prospecting.
Describing The Ring of Fire according to the map below, the San Andreas Fault and Yellowstone play the main roles. Accordingly, The Ring of Fire covers a rather wide area, mathematically confined. The San Andreas Fault has a section moving continually, as no pressure accumulates due to the fact that the drift direction of the Pacific Ocean Tectonic Plate is exactly parallel to the fault alignment. Just to add one fact, the sliding effect is due to the fact that the Pacific Plate drifts slightly away from the North American Plate at that point, but the North American Plate moves towards the point, so the combined result is a smooth, perpendicular meeting point. This is the most important thing to understand in an attempt to understand the preconditions of the Ring of Fire.
Yellowstone is therefore also a key point of the Ring of Fire. For a manifistation of that statement, we should have a look at a basic geological map of the Yellowstone Caldera:
Calderas tend to be regular, and therefore an elliptical form is used to aproximate the outlines of Yellowstone. Then the major and minor axis of the ellipse become apparent, and they are perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the edge of the Ring of Fire at that location. The minor is aligned in the same way as San Andreas Fault. It is not necessary to add a detailed map of San Andreas Fault complex here, because everyone knows that it is logically parallel to the Ring of Fire.
Taking this a bit further, the Pacific Tectonic Plate drifts as a whole in one direction. On the contrary, the adjacent plates of America and Eurasia rotate towards the Pacific. The Ring of Fire also includes other plates than the Pacific Ocean Tectonic Plate, as it is defined. Other factors determine its scope too, and there we have the pattern shaped by convection rolls. The different layers of rolls have intersection points, coinciding with the outer and inner edges of the Ring of Fire. That provides the mathematical base for the elliptical form of the Ring of Fire. The way to realize this is simply to trace the two concentric yellow ellipses marking the Ring of Fire, and see how many intersection points each of them coincide with. The width of the Ring of Fire therefore always remains mathematically the same in proportion with the grid formed by latitudes and longitudes.
This description of the Ring of Fire is presently of a secondary nature, because first you have to have knowledge about the Mantle Convection Rolls Model, and then about the Ring and Fire and how it is related to the said model. Besides that, the tectonic drift vectors are not always presented as on the map above. A solid reference frame, and a view from space with GPS should describe tectonic drift in the best way. And it should be noticed that Yellowstone, according to this analysis, is a part of the Ring of Fire. More about this in my paper: https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/GeoConf/papers/SGW/2024/Thorbjarnarson.pdf
April first, 2025, the dyke responsible for the recent eruptions got active again. New intrusion of magma resulted in an extension to the north-east. It was a surprise, but the alignment can be explained according to the framework of convection rolls underneath.
By showing the context this becomes understandable. The elongation of the dyke took place within an area outside the seismic zone of Reykjanes. The central axis of the seismic zone is marked with a black line, connecting with the straight black line representing the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ). The north-south oriented earthquake faults of the Reykjanes Oblique Zone affect the orientation of the aggregate of focal loci at the southernmost end of the whole dyke. The longer, and new section of the dyke follows the surrounding framework exactly. The tectonic drift vectors can not explain the orientation, but local tension is coherent with the shape of the polygon marked with red lines. The Reykjanes Ridge is responsible for the bending of the Reykjanes Oblique Zone. When it comes to the SISZ, the axis is unafected by the ridge within the polygon, so the central axis becomes a straight line. The same features are found in the Borgarfjörður region of West Iceland.
Geology can be difficult to comprehend, and there are many examples of misunderstanding the basic principles behind the processes gradually changing our planet. It is generally acknowledged that we still have a scientific frontier when it comes to tectonic drift, explaining location of volcanoes, geothermal areas and seismic zones. Here, an attempt is made to solve the problem and explain many of the remaining questions by analyzing the currents within the mantle. A few things are generally known, because they can be measured with confidence. That includes the thickness of layers, or depth of discontinuities, and the chemical properties of the mantle. We also know that the thermal gradient is adiabatic below 120 km depth. It is found that above 120 km the mantle does not flow, no convection takes place there. On the contrary, below 120 km convection does take place. As the thermal gradient is adiabatic, the mantle material is always on the verge of becoming stagnant. These conditions can be imitated in laboratories, and it is then discovered that the convection leads to formation of convection rolls, with the same height and width. This can be used to make a model of convection rolls within the Earth. The rotation of the Earth must be considered, but there are ways to do that according to physics, and thereby the location of convection rolls can be found. After doing this, surface features can be compared to the modelled convection rolls, and it turns out that everything fits. All over the world, volcanoes, geothermal sites, seismic zones, subduction zones and other features can be readily explained. This means that in the future, utilization of various resources will become much more systematic than today. This will improve our understanding of tectonics and the basic forces leading to tectonic drift. And it is easy in a way, because the convection rolls have been located very accurately. The different layers affect each other, and the surface, often in ways that makes it difficult at first to see the relationship between cause and effect. But with the comprehensive version of the model at hand, the role of each layer can be studied. With the three papers already published, examples about mid-ocean ridges, subduction, volcanic zones and seismic areas have been provided. Just take the time to learn what our planet is like. Icelandic geology made it possible to start this job, because Iceland is like a natural laboratory. Global aspect is also important, though, and by combining knowledge about the Earth in general and Iceland in particular, the publication of these papers could be realized.
Magic Magma 