Climate of Iceland

Climate of Iceland
Heavy snow in Iceland in winter

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.

Contents

Seasons

Winter

The Icelandic 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 (14 °F). The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the island range from around -25 to -30 °C (-13 to -22 °F). The lowest temperature on record is −39.7 °C (−39.5 °F).[1]

Summer

The average July temperature in the southern part of the island is 10–13 °C (50–55 °F). Warm summer days can reach 20–25 °C (68–77 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) at the Eastern fjords in 1939. Annual average sunshine hours in Reykjavik are around 1300, which is similar to towns in Scotland and Ireland.[1]

Winds and storms

The prevailing wind direction is easterly. Westerlies are very infrequent. Generally speaking, wind speeds tend to be higher in the highlands, 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 storms can be generated by strong glacial winds, and can be very strong. Up to 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11.0 short tons) 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.

Thunderstorms 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.

Atmospheric pressure

There is a persistent area of low pressure near Iceland, aptly named the Icelandic Low, 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.

See also

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Iceland — Icelander /uys lan deuhr, leuhn deuhr/, n. /uys leuhnd/, n. 1. a large island in the N Atlantic between Greenland and Scandinavia. 39,698 sq. mi. (102,820 sq. km). 2. a republic including this island and several smaller islands: formerly Danish;… …   Universalium

  • Iceland — Infobox Country native name = Lýðveldið Ísland conventional long name = Republic of Iceland common name = Iceland map caption = Location of Iceland (red) in Europe (white) national motto = national anthem = Lofsöngur official languages =… …   Wikipedia

  • Climate of the Nordic countries — The wintery Lapporten mountain pass in Lappland, Sweden. The climate of the Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories which include the Fa …   Wikipedia

  • Iceland — • The island called Iceland, is considered, because of its population and history as forming a part of Europe, is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Iceland     Iceland …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Climate change and agriculture — are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale.[1] Global warming is projected to have significant impacts on conditions affecting agriculture, including temperature, carbon dioxide, glacial run off, precipitation and the… …   Wikipedia

  • Climate of Spain — Climate of the Iberian Peninsula according to the Köppen Climate Classification. Spanish State Meteorological Agency Agencia Estatal de Meteorología and Portuguese Meteorological Institute Instituto de Meteorologia.[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Climate change alarmism — or global warming alarmism is a critical description of a rhetorical style that stresses the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming to the point where the scale of the problem appears to exclude the possibility of real action or… …   Wikipedia

  • Climate of east England — Climate charts East Anglia regional average[1] Climate chart (explanation) J F M …   Wikipedia

  • climate change — Introduction  periodic modification of Earth s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth …   Universalium

  • Iceland — <p></p> <p></p> Introduction ::Iceland <p></p> Background: <p></p> Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the… …   The World Factbook

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”