Iceland's Coastal Hazards

  

Coastal erosion, sea level rise, and storm surges are some of the coastal hazards that are experienced in Iceland. Iceland is a large island, with a number of smaller islands, so there is a lot of coastline!  The coastline of Iceland is 6.542,4 km (40.652,5 miles) long,  and the coastal hazard level in Iceland is classified as medium.  This means that there is more than a 20% chance of potentially damaging coastal flood waves occurring in the next 10 years. 

Most of the damage experienced in Iceland occurs from coastal erosion due to extreme weather and waves.  Storm surges and extreme waves have caused considerable damage along the coast.  The most extensive damage has occurred in low-lying coastal areas and poorly protected harbors around the south and west coasts of the country. 

This is a great video that shows how dangerous the waves can become. 

https://youtu.be/cSgSMZsMh4A

WAVES The advancing seas are eroding beaches along Iceland's coasts and imperiling archeological remains that have not yet been researched. Photo/Vísir.

In addition to the hazards mentioned above, Iceland has the added issue of glaciers that are melting, some at a level of over 150m a year,  and contributing to sea level rise in the area. 

An interesting, and sad, thing that I learned is that rising sea levels pose a threat not only to the current population of the country but also to  Iceland’s Viking history. Coastal erosion is a serious threat to archaeological sites in many places around Iceland. Many of these sites are believed to contain items and remains dating from the settlement of Iceland and the Viking Age.  The price of saving them is hampering the efforts to save them too. Iceland's Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture estimates that documenting the country's artifacts before they are lost could cost 330 million Krona, about $3.3 million U.S. currency. Some of the Icelandic Artifacts date from the Viking age and include fishing camps and cemeteries. You can read more about it here. 

Mitigation measures:

In order to mitigate these hazards Iceland needs to (and does):

1. Consider the impact of coastal flooding in any decision to build in an area prone to flooding, or erosion.  

2. Have evacuation plans (and contingency evacuation plans).

3. Risk awareness for coastal areas and villages. 

4. Have in place robust emergency response plans and protocols.

5. Consultation with technical experts familiar with coastal flooding and hazards.

6. Insurance for risks that can’t be mitigated. 

7. Critical infrastructure; (e.g. hospital, fire station, etc.)

Sources:

Wave video

https://youtu.be/cSgSMZsMh4A

Iceland Magazine

https://icelandmag.is/

CNN

https://www.cnn.com/

Guide to Iceland

https://guidetoiceland.is/

Week 11: Cyclonic Events

      

Super Typhoon Goni as seen by the light of the Halloween full moon on October 31, 2020, by the VIIRS instrument. The lights of Manila are visible at left. (Image credit: NASA Worldview)

     I have been studying Iceland, which does not really have terrible damage from cyclonic events, so I chose to write about Super Typhoon Goni, which hit Philippines in November of 2020 and caused catastrophic damage in the region of Catanduanes Island.  The reason that I chose to write about it is that I remember hearing about  it vividly because my dear friend who is from Philippines was so worried about family there and we were already so concerned about COVID-19. Goni, known as Rolly in Philippines, was the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone in world history at the time. It had sustained winds of 195mph and central pressure of 884mb. 

Infrared satellite image of Super Typhoon Goni at 4:50 p.m. EDT October 31, when it was making landfall on Catanduanes Island in the Philippines with sustained winds of 195 mph and a central pressure of 884 mb. (Image credit: RAMMB/CIRA/Colorado State University)

Radar image of Super Typhoon Goni making landfall near Bato, on Catanduanes Island, in the Philippines, at 20:50 UTC October 31. (Image credit: PAGASA)

The damage caused by Goni/Rolly was extensive. As stated in a Yale Climate Connections article  “The wind damage from a 195-mph hurricane would be akin to that from a high-end EF3 tornado with 165 mph winds.”

Damage was caused by storm surge, torrential rains, landslides, and flooding. Lahars, buried 300 homes,  killed at least three people and caused another three to go missing. 

Fortunately this massive storm’s eyewall collapsed shortly after landfall and spared the city of Manila, which has a population of more than 13 million. Had it not, the devastation would have been unimaginable. 

Mitigation efforts included warnings to stay away from the coast or beach, low lying areas, and cancel any maritime activities.  In addition it was suggested to stay up to date on the status of the storm.

Storm surge forecast for Goni issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

In addition  another mitigation measure would be to avoid building near the coast or beach, or to raise any building so that it would not be destroyed by storm surge. 

Sources:

Yale Climate Connections:

https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/11/super-typhoon-goni-slams-into-philippines-as-strongest-landfalling-tropical-cyclone-on-record/

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

Center for Disaster: Super Typhoon Goni

https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disasters/super-typhoon-goni/#:~:text=Goni's%20peak%20winds%20were%20as,storm%20killed%20about%206%2C000%20people.

Week 10: Extreme Weather in Iceland....BRRRRRR!!!!

 

People in Iceland are fairly used to some pretty crazy weather including blizzards. Blizzards are the most common type of extreme weather in Iceland. A blizzard is when a severe winter storm has large amounts of falling snow driven by high winds to create low visibility for an extended period of time. In 2015 Iceland experienced its worst storm on record with winds over 160 miles per hour and an accumulation of over 10 feet of snow in the mountains. 

This was the first "named' storm in Iceland and they named it Diddú,after a known opera singer in Iceland.The worst damage was in South Iceland and the Westman Islands.  The strength of the winds blew the roofs off of houses, and boats disappeared because they just up and blew away! Thankfully people were not hurt, but there was such extensive property damage that the cleanup was very expensive and lengthy. 

It is best to stay indoors when there is a blizzard in Iceland, or anywhere for that matter. The biggest dangers during a blizzard come from flying objects in the wind, downed powerlines, and white-out conditions for driving and walking. The wind chill effect that is created in a storm such as this is dangerous to exposed skin.  The moving air reduces the time it takes for frostbite to occur, so the lower wind chill temperature is more important than the air temperature in a blizzard.  This is yet another reason to stay inside if you weren't already convinced.  

You can click here to watch a short video of an extreme snowstorm in Iceland.  It made me cold just to watch it!

Minimization and mitigation techniques should include more accurate prediction so that they can better forecast and warn the public. Construction of buildings that can better withstand severe weather in order to minimize death and loss of property. Hazard preparedness that informs the public of actions to take and where to go once the warning of severe weather has gone out. Finally, education and insurance programs that will help to reduce the risk. 

Sources:

YouTube: Icelandscapes Snow Storm, uploaded by Brenner, Stefan  December 11, 2014

https://youtu.be/NZmDv0QJs34

Guide to Iceland

https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/nanna/a-massive-storm-hits-iceland-see-the-devastation

Keller, E. A., & DeVecchio, D. E. (2015). Natural hazards: Earth's processes as hazards, disasters, and catastrophes (4th ed.). Pearson.