Iceland
Vatnajökull
Fieldwork conducted on Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest ice cap, is both highly demanding and deeply rewarding. Researchers contend with harsh weather conditions—such as sudden storms, strong winds, and whiteouts—that make both travel and data collection difficult. Field personnel frequently operate from remote huts or tented camps for prolonged durations, necessitating careful logistical planning and a high degree of endurance. Despite the tough conditions, this work is vital for monitoring glacier changes and understanding climate impacts in one of Europe’s most dynamic glacial environments.
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The maritime climate in Iceland, heavily influenced by warm ocean currents from the south, brings high variability in weather conditions. Over the past century, Iceland has experienced significant warming, especially in winter, with an average temperature increase of 1.0°C per century. Precipitation has also risen, contributing to both snow accumulation and meltwater production on glaciers. These climatic changes, along with warming ocean temperatures, have accelerated glacier mass loss.
On Vatnajökull and other major ice caps, field work focuses on measuring glacier mass balance, melt rates, and meteorological conditions. A network of automatic weather stations (AWS) is deployed during the melt season (May–October) to monitor surface energy balance and climate. These stations are maintained by the Institute of Earth Sciences, the University of Iceland, and Landsvirkjun (National Power Company of Iceland), which rely heavily on glacier-fed runoff for hydropower — more than 72% of Iceland’s energy production.
Field scientists install ablation stakes, excavate snow pits, and use GPS and ground-penetrating radar to measure snow accumulation and ice thickness. These observations are crucial for understanding the glaciers’ response to ongoing climate change. Since the end of the Little Ice Age, circa 1890, Icelandic glaciers have lost about 16% of their total mass, equivalent to 1.5 mm of global sea level rise. Nearly half of this loss has occurred since 1994, with an especially rapid retreat between 1994 and 2010.
Despite the difficult conditions, the research on the field site is essential to provide a detailed understanding of glacial processes and climate impacts in the North Atlantic. In addition, it supports critical infrastructure planning in Iceland’s hydropower sector. Projections indicate continued glacier volume loss of 40–50% by the end of the 21st century, which will profoundly affect water availability and energy systems.
