The Volcanic Aeolian Environments of Iceland

Abstract

Iceland has extensive unstable sandy deserts that shape the nature of all Icelandic ecosystems. Aeolian processes redistribute silty and sandy materials over the entire island, with large amounts deposited closest to active aeolian sources, such as near sandy deserts and more localized but very active dust plume sources. The most active dust sources are linked to glacial margins where glacial rivers not only deposit unstable silty and sandy materials on level sand plains, but also along level stretches of major glacial rivers. Most of the silty materials that make up the Icelandic dust are basaltic volcanic glass . Periodic volcanic eruptions add materials to the unstable barren surfaces. The sandy areas make up the largest volcaniclastic sand fields on Earth. Wind erosion rates in Iceland on unstable sand is often 500–3,000 kg m⁻¹ year⁻¹, but some of the most intense storms rate among the largest ever measured (> 11,000 kg m⁻¹ in one event). Dust deposition generally ranges from 0.01 to >1 mm, with >500 g m⁻² deposition within the most active areas, which is of the same order as the most active sandy desert areas elsewhere. The dust and volcanic ash deposition has a controlling effect on soil properties, soil genesis, and ecosystem fertility, as discussed in other chapters of the book.