Final answer:
Surtsey is a young volcanic island south of Iceland that emerged from sea in a volcanic eruption from 1963 to 1967, providing insight into ecological succession.
Step-by-step explanation:
Surtsey is a volcanic island located 32 kilometers south of Iceland. It emerged from the ocean in a volcanic eruption that began in 1963 and lasted until 1967. As an island formed by volcanic activity, Surtsey is part of Iceland's dynamic geology, characterized by the presence of active volcanoes above mantle "hot spots". One of the distinguishing features of Surtsey is its youth, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study the colonization process of new land by plant and animal life.
Volcanic islands like Surtsey are not uncommon, as Earth's plates move over time, engaging with hotspots that generate chains of volcanic islands. The island of Hawaii, for example, is situated above a hot spot, resulting in active volcanoes and contributing to the long chain of volcanic islands in the region.
Surtsey, too, adds to the rich tapestry of geological history that includes ancient volcanic eruptions, like the one that created the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland or buried the ancient settlement of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini.