A Timeline Of Events - Surtsey Island

November 14, 1963
The first sign of an eruption was sighted, approximately 18km South West of Heinmay.

January 6, 1964
A submarine eruption was evident, in a location approximately 2.5km East North East of Surtsey.

January 30, 1964
The island was now 800m above the sea floor, and was over 174m above water level.

February 1, 1964
Tephra (magma) erupted from young Surtsey.

April 4, 1964
A lava eruption started in the Western crater of Surtsey.

May, 1964
The eruption from the Western crater ceased, and the first insect was discovered.

May 25, 1965
A new eruption took place at the bottom of the ocean, around 0.6km East North East of Surtsey.

Spring, 1965
The first higher plant was discovered of the shoreline, and was called the sea rocket (Cakile Aretica)

(Unknown) 1967
The first mosses were found on Surtsey - the Funaria Hygrometrica and the Byrum Argenteum.
The next higher plant species was found, called the oyster plant (Mertensio Meritino) and the sea sandwort (Hokenya Peploides).

(Unknown) 1966
The second higher plant was the sea lime grass (Leymus Arenarius)

August 19, 1966
A new eruption began on Surtsey in the Eastern tephra crater.

June, 1967
The eruptions on Surtsey finally ceased after three and a half years.

(Unknown) 1970
The lichens Stereacaulan Vesuvianum and Placopsis Raomitrium Lanuginosum were discovered.
The first idicators of colonisation of the extensive bare lava flows were found.
The lichen Tropelia Coarctata has become widely distributed near the Western crater.

(Unknown) 1971
The first seeding of the sea sandwort occurred.
The lichen Stereocaulon Schistidium Strictum were discovered.

(Unknown) 1972
The lichen Xanthoria Candelaria was discovered near a water container visited by birds.

(Unknown) 1974
The next birds to join the Black Fulmar and the Black Guillemot was the Great Black Backed Gull.

(Unknown) 1975
A new bird decided to nest in Surtsey - the Kittiwake (Rissa Tridaetyla)

1977 - 1979
The sea lyme grass and the oyster plant started seeding and spreading throughout the sands

(Unknown) 1981
When Surtsey was visited, it was obvious that several species has become permanently established. It formed a community of herbivores, saprotrophs, and carnivores.

(Unknown) 1985
A milestone in the colonisation of mosses and lichens was reached when the gull nesting colony was well on its way and soil formation was progressing.

(Unknown) 1986
A Lesser Black Gull (Larus Fuscus) was discovered breeding for the first time on Surtsey.
A dense seagull population had begun to form, along with many other plant species. Among the gull species on Surtsey are the plant species: the Crowberry (Emperium Nigrum), the Meadow Buttercup (Ranuculus Acris) Smooth Meadow Grass (Poa Pratenis), the Bening's Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia Beringensis) and the Northern Dock (Rumex Longifolius).

(Unknown) 1990
The first lichens of the genus Peltigera had developed well in the moss patches.

Summer 1993
The first earthworms were found in Surtsey soil samples taken from the gull colony.

(Unknown) 1994
A very special fungus was discovered, whose only essential nutrient need is keratin. It was discovered in Surtsey in some feather remains and was called the Feather Fungus (Onygena Cervina).

(Unknown) 1995
Now only eight species of Collomba were found, and six were new to the island. There were 16 before.
The diversity of mites had grown to a total of 62 different species.
When soil animals were studied in 1995, the vegetation had become very lush and the soil fauna very diverse.
The Dwarf Willow (Salix Herbacea) was found in Surtsey in 1995, and was the first willow to occupy Surtsey.

(Unknown) 2002
As a result of a study being carried out in 2002. A total of 76 invertebrate species were found, half of them for the first time on Surtsey.

(Unknown) 2003
The growth of 53 species of mosses on Surtsey had been confirmed.

Summer 2003
The Northern Green Orchid (Planthera Hyperborea) and Lady's Bedstraw (Galium Verun) were found for the first time on Surtsey.

Summer 2004
60 species of higher plants had been found on Surtsey, of which 54 were still their to represent their kind.

(Unknown) 2004
The breeding area had increased to around 10 hectares.