Week 13: Coastal hazards in Iceland

Iceland, is a country surrounded by water making it especially vulnerable to coastal hazards. Not only do they have surge storms and coastal flooding from high waves but they also have glaciers and ice caps that are melting and causing a rise in sea levels.

Eustatic Sea Level: This refers to changes in the global sea level. The sea level and the climate are closely linked. As the climate warms the glaciers and ice caps have begun to melt. Sea level has been rising about 1 to 2 millimeters per year due to the reduction in volume of ice caps, ice fields, and mountain glaciers in addition to the thermal expansion of ocean water. For Iceland this will be a huge problem in years to come in regards to coastal flooding. In Iceland, about 11 percent of the island is covered by glaciers (mostly ice caps). If warming continues, Iceland's glaciers will decrease by 40 percent by 2100 and virtually disappear by 2200.
The threat of coastal flooding is especially high in the SW area of Iceland as that area is subsiding and therefore more vulnerable to rising sea levels. 

Storm surges: Iceland is frequently hit by big storms, especially in the winter months. In the past Iceland has been hit with storm surges and extreme waves that have caused extensive damage along the coastal areas. The most extensive damage has occurred at low lying areas and in less protected harbors along the south and west coast of the country. which are most exposed to surges and extreme weather conditions. Luckily,in Iceland, many coastal areas are made of solid rock which reduces the coastal erosion. Damage to roads and structures are the concern when it comes to large waves and storm systems. 


Risk management: Since 2008 the Icelandic meteorological Office is responsible for risk assessment of natural hazards, including coastal floods. Residents rely on the storm surge warnings from the Icelandic Meteorological Office(IMO) and Icelandic Civil Protection and Emergency Management (ICP). There are a number of preventative measures that can be taken. Sea level rise should be accounted for in urban planning and coastal structures.Severe coastal floods occur in this area on average every 11 years. Levees and piers have been put up in various places, but these do not provide protection against serious floods. The probability of flooding should be assessed. Some kind of defense should be built in the south side of the island, near Reykjavik, to counter the subsidence in that area. Evacuation and emergency plans for the South Iceland coast community is needed and appropriate hazard education taught to the inhabitants.

thanks for reading, 

Jennifer