Author: Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

Comparing the Icelandic West Fjords with the Bering Strait at the same latitudes, the same orientation of tectonic features appear. And this is the same case as I have already shown in other posts with Scandinavian Peninsula, Greenland and Baffinsland at the same latitudes! When information like this has been gathered, and it can be manifested again and again, it becomes a proof that a systematic convection cell system is affecting the tectonics above:

The black straight line is the alignment of convection rolls extending from the pole, and the red lines indicate the direction of convection rolls extending to equator.

With a map at hand, using the convection cell model for comparing different areas becomes quite easy.

One of the most popular sites in Iceland is Thingvellir. Here is a simple drawing of Lake Thingvallavatn, showing the combined tectonic forces that make the area so special:

As can be seen on this simple drawing, the edge of the Western Volcanic Zone of South Iceland, Hengill Volcanic System and a large scale rift zone combine around the NS-axis of the relevant polygon of convection cells underneath. This results in a very prominent line of cliffs including the famous Almannagjá. A similar combination occurs at Hrafnagjá.

Of course, tectonic drift is responsible for this, but the division line of the large convection cells is found at the eastern edge of the Western Volcanic Zone.

The tectonic directions can be calculated one by one, as explained in an earlier post.

When we say that Iceland belongs to two tectonic plates which drift away from each other, we also say that two different mantle currents exist under the country. Well… we usually skip the latter part 🙂 Still it is what we mean by drifting – a current takes the huge plates and moves them! As I have analyzed these currents, we can compare that analysis with the division line between the continents according to drift vectors measured with GPS technology.

The black line is the division line of the main convection lines of lower mantle. The red line shows the main division line in between the two tectonic plates of N-America and Eurasia. The thin lines show the network of smaller convection roll layers.

To fully comprehend this, one has to read the book first 🙂 But the base is simple – regular convection current rolls with the same height and width – just physics.

Considering that the coast of Baffinsland is created by rifting of the American continent, we should also check the same latitudes of Iceland and Baffinsland, just like Iceland and Greenland, and Iceland and Norway. The same result appears:

The mirror image of the West Fjords fits to the coast of Baffinsland! Should we keep on testing this?