Climate of Iceland
Encyclopedia
The climate of Iceland is cold oceanic
(Köppen climate classification
: Cfc) near the southern coastal area and tundra
inland in the highlands. The island
lies in the path of the North Atlantic Current
, which makes the climate of the island more temperate than would be expected for its latitude
just south of the Arctic Circle
. This effect is aided by the Irminger Current
, which also helps to moderate the island’s temperature. The weather in Iceland
can be notoriously variable. The aurora borealis is often visible at night time during the winter.
is relatively mild for its latitude. The southerly lowlands of the island average around 0 °C (32 °F) in winter, while the highlands tend to average around -10 °C. The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the island range from around -25 C. The lowest temperature on record is -39.7 °C.
in 1939. Annual average sunshine hours in Reykjavik
are around 1300, which is similar to towns in Scotland and Ireland.
, but topographical features
can aggravate winds and cause strong gusts in lowland areas. Wind speed frequently reaches 18 m/s (59 ft/s) ; on stormy days it averages 50 m/s (164 ft/s). Heavy dust storm
s can be generated by strong glacial
winds, and can be very strong. Up to 10 t (9.8 LT; 11 ST) of material can be in motion per transect
per hour. These storms are very frequent in the early summer in the arid highland areas north of the Vatnajökull
glacier.
Thunderstorm
s are extremely rare in Iceland, with fewer than five storms per year in the southern part of the island. They are most common in late summertime. They can be caused by warm air masses coming up from the continent, or deep lows
from the southwest in wintertime. Lightning can usually be observed in connection with ash plumes
erupting from the island’s volcanoes.
, found between Iceland and Greenland
. This area affects the amount of air brought into the Arctic
to the east, and the amount coming out of the Arctic to the west. This area is part of a greater pressure system known as the North Atlantic Oscillation
.
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
: Cfc) near the southern coastal area and tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
inland in the highlands. The island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
lies in the path of the North Atlantic Current
North Atlantic Current
The North Atlantic Current is a powerful warm ocean current that continues the Gulf Stream northeast. West of Ireland it splits in two; one branch, the Canary Current, goes south, while the other continues north along the coast of northwestern Europe...
, which makes the climate of the island more temperate than would be expected for its latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
just south of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
. This effect is aided by the Irminger Current
Irminger Current
The Irminger Current is a cold north Atlantic ocean current setting westward off the southwest coast of Iceland. It is composed of cold water blown from the Arctic regions by the polar easterly winds. It is also called the East Greenland current....
, which also helps to moderate the island’s temperature. The weather in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
can be notoriously variable. The aurora borealis is often visible at night time during the winter.
Winter
The Icelandic winterWinter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
is relatively mild for its latitude. The southerly lowlands of the island average around 0 °C (32 °F) in winter, while the highlands tend to average around -10 °C. The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the island range from around -25 C. The lowest temperature on record is -39.7 °C.
Summer
The average July temperature in the southern part of the island is 10 –. Warm summer days can reach 20 –. The highest temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) at the Eastern fjordsAusturland
Austurland is a region in eastern Iceland. Its area is 22,721 km² and its population is 15,300. The biggest town in the region is Egilsstaðir, with a population of 2300. The oldest municipality in the Eastfjords is Seydisfjörðr municipality established 1895, with population of 706 the year...
in 1939. Annual average sunshine hours in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
are around 1300, which is similar to towns in Scotland and Ireland.
Winds and storms
The prevailing wind direction is easterly. Westerlies are very infrequent. Generally speaking, wind speeds tend to be higher in the highlandsHighlands of Iceland
The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. They are situated above 400–500 metres and are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is unavailable for plant growth, which results...
, but topographical features
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
can aggravate winds and cause strong gusts in lowland areas. Wind speed frequently reaches 18 m/s (59 ft/s) ; on stormy days it averages 50 m/s (164 ft/s). Heavy dust storm
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
s can be generated by strong glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
winds, and can be very strong. Up to 10 t (9.8 LT; 11 ST) of material can be in motion per transect
Transect
A transect is a path along which one records and counts occurrences of the phenomena of study .It requires an observer to move along a fixed path and to count occurrences along the path and, at the same time, obtain the distance of the object from the path...
per hour. These storms are very frequent in the early summer in the arid highland areas north of the Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country.-Size:With an area of 8,100 km², Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume and the second largest in area Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in...
glacier.
Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s are extremely rare in Iceland, with fewer than five storms per year in the southern part of the island. They are most common in late summertime. They can be caused by warm air masses coming up from the continent, or deep lows
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
from the southwest in wintertime. Lightning can usually be observed in connection with ash plumes
Plume (hydrodynamics)
In hydrodynamics, a plume is a column of one fluid or gas moving through another. Several effects control the motion of the fluid, including momentum, diffusion, and buoyancy...
erupting from the island’s volcanoes.
Atmospheric pressure
There is a persistent area of low pressure near Iceland, aptly named the Icelandic LowIcelandic Low
The Icelandic Low is a semi-permanent centre of low atmospheric pressure found between Iceland and southern Greenland and extending in the Northern Hemisphere winter into the Barents Sea. In summer it weakens and splits into two centres, one near Davis Strait and the other west of Iceland...
, found between Iceland and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. This area affects the amount of air brought into the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
to the east, and the amount coming out of the Arctic to the west. This area is part of a greater pressure system known as the North Atlantic Oscillation
North Atlantic oscillation
The North Atlantic oscillation is a climatic phenomenon in the North Atlantic Ocean of fluctuations in the difference of atmospheric pressure at sea level between the Icelandic low and the Azores high. Through east-west oscillation motions of the Icelandic low and the Azores high, it controls the...
.
External links
- The dynamic climate of Iceland – A brief description of the country’s climate (with maps)
- Reykjavík, Iceland Forecast: Weather Underground – Weather forecast for Reykjavík