HR: 08:15h
AN: C31A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Permafrost in Iceland – Distribution, Ground Temperatures and Climate Change Impact
AU: * Etzelmuller, B
EM: bernde@geo.uio.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Oslo, 0317, Norway
AU: Farbrot, H
EM: herman.farbrot@met.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Oslo, 0317, Norway
AU: Schuler, T V
EM: t.v.schuler@geo.uio.no
AF: Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Oslo, 0317, Norway
AU: Gudmundsson, A
EM: jardis@geoice.net
AF: Jaršfręšistofan Geological Services, Solheimar, Reykjavik, 35104, Iceland
AB: This paper gives an overview of distribution, thermal characteristics and geomorphological impact of mountain permafrost in Iceland. Borehole temperature monitoring since summer 2004 and simple distribution modelling implies widespread mountain permafrost in Iceland. The permafrost temperatures are close to 0 °C and some tens of meters thick in the elevation range of 800 to 1000 m a.s.l. Here snow coverage mainly governs the permafrost distribution, while above 1200 m a.s.l. smaller areas of continuous permafrost do exist. This presentation presents new borehole temperature data until the summer 2007 and associated numerical modelling of climate change impact. Further, the paper discusses possible impact of the maritime permafrost in Iceland on geomorphological and geotechnical processes and landform evolution.
DE: 0475 Permafrost, cryosphere, and high-latitude processes (0702, 0716)
DE: 0702 Permafrost (0475)
DE: 0710 Periglacial processes
DE: 0772 Distribution
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting