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Currently Playing: The Flood Basalt Volcanoes of Iceland; The World's Largest Effusive Eruptions

In the recent history of the planet, a small stretch of land has produced all three of the largest effusive eruptions on the planet. These eruptions covered up to 1,000 square kilometers in molten rock, thus vastly changing the planet's climate in the short term. These eruptions could best be described as miniature flood basalts and are the closest the planet gets to a true flood basalt. So, why have these large effusive eruptions only occurred in a small part of Iceland? This video will answer this question and discuss the group of largest effusive eruptions during human history on the planet. If you would like to support this channel, consider becoming a patron at http://patreon.com/geologyhub. Another way to support this channel is to make an order via our gemstone and geology related etsy store at http://prospectingarizona.etsy.com. This channel's merch store is also on etsy at http://geologyhub.etsy.com. 0:00 The World's Largest Eruptions 0:18 A Recent Example, Laki 1:23 An Area of Mini Flood Basalts 2:43 Volcanoes which Produce these Eruptions Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google Thumbnail Photo Credit: J. D. Griggs, USGS, Public Domain