Andri Gunnarsson
@andrigun.bsky.social
Glaciers, seasonal snow, snow-ice albedo and field work among other things. Chairman of the Icelandic Glaciology Society. Hydrological research at Landsvirkjun.
Summary of the results for Icelandic glaciers for the glaciological year 2023-2024.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Summary of the results for Icelandic glaciers for the glaciological year 2023-2024.
2023-2024 annual mass balance results:
Vatnajökull: Annual loss -0.4m, near avg of past decade.
Hofsjökull: Annual loss -0.9m, continuing decades-long decline.
Langjökull: -1.02m annual loss, 18% below long-term mean.
Mýrdalsjökull: 13–26% below historical avg.
Vatnajökull: Annual loss -0.4m, near avg of past decade.
Hofsjökull: Annual loss -0.9m, continuing decades-long decline.
Langjökull: -1.02m annual loss, 18% below long-term mean.
Mýrdalsjökull: 13–26% below historical avg.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
2023-2024 annual mass balance results:
Vatnajökull: Annual loss -0.4m, near avg of past decade.
Hofsjökull: Annual loss -0.9m, continuing decades-long decline.
Langjökull: -1.02m annual loss, 18% below long-term mean.
Mýrdalsjökull: 13–26% below historical avg.
Vatnajökull: Annual loss -0.4m, near avg of past decade.
Hofsjökull: Annual loss -0.9m, continuing decades-long decline.
Langjökull: -1.02m annual loss, 18% below long-term mean.
Mýrdalsjökull: 13–26% below historical avg.
Sand/ash deposition in late May sped melting in parts of southern Vatnajökull. Sentinel-2 images showed deposits by mid-June. These deposits, combined with sunny conditions, increased lower-elevation melt rates despite summer snowfall events.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Sand/ash deposition in late May sped melting in parts of southern Vatnajökull. Sentinel-2 images showed deposits by mid-June. These deposits, combined with sunny conditions, increased lower-elevation melt rates despite summer snowfall events.
Summer 2024 melting was delayed by cold weather. June 2–10 saw 10–15 cm of snow on glaciers, halting melt for ~10 days. A mid-August cold spell further slowed melt. June snowfall was 2x historical avg for many glaciers (CARRA data).
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Summer 2024 melting was delayed by cold weather. June 2–10 saw 10–15 cm of snow on glaciers, halting melt for ~10 days. A mid-August cold spell further slowed melt. June snowfall was 2x historical avg for many glaciers (CARRA data).
2023–2024 snow accumulation:
Vatnajökull: Below avg, except N areas like Brúarjökull.
Hofsjökull: 13–17% below avg.
Langjökull: Mostly below avg, better in ablation zones.
Mýrdalsjökull: 20–35% below avg, linked to dry southern weather.
Vatnajökull: Below avg, except N areas like Brúarjökull.
Hofsjökull: 13–17% below avg.
Langjökull: Mostly below avg, better in ablation zones.
Mýrdalsjökull: 20–35% below avg, linked to dry southern weather.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
2023–2024 snow accumulation:
Vatnajökull: Below avg, except N areas like Brúarjökull.
Hofsjökull: 13–17% below avg.
Langjökull: Mostly below avg, better in ablation zones.
Mýrdalsjökull: 20–35% below avg, linked to dry southern weather.
Vatnajökull: Below avg, except N areas like Brúarjökull.
Hofsjökull: 13–17% below avg.
Langjökull: Mostly below avg, better in ablation zones.
Mýrdalsjökull: 20–35% below avg, linked to dry southern weather.
Intergrated water vapor tranport and wind direction at 500 hPa for winter. Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Intergrated water vapor tranport and wind direction at 500 hPa for winter. Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
Weakened southerly winds and shifted storm tracks caused Iceland to miss its usual moisture transport. Glaciers like Vatnajökull, Hofsjökull, & Langjökull, reliant on southerly winds, had reduced snow. Drangajökull & Tröllaskagi fared better with northerly patterns.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Weakened southerly winds and shifted storm tracks caused Iceland to miss its usual moisture transport. Glaciers like Vatnajökull, Hofsjökull, & Langjökull, reliant on southerly winds, had reduced snow. Drangajökull & Tröllaskagi fared better with northerly patterns.
Winter 2023–2024 was cold and dry, with little precipitation. Dry conditions persisted into Dec, with minimal snow from low-pressure systems. Precipitation remained below average in Jan, Mar, and Apr. Most fell as snow, not rain, which typically accelerates glacier melt.
December 23, 2024 at 8:06 PM
Winter 2023–2024 was cold and dry, with little precipitation. Dry conditions persisted into Dec, with minimal snow from low-pressure systems. Precipitation remained below average in Jan, Mar, and Apr. Most fell as snow, not rain, which typically accelerates glacier melt.