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Conservation and restoration of Icelandic wetlands : An evaluation of progress towards implementation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(2025-04) Barry, Tom; School of Humanities and Social Sciences
This paper is focused on implementing a framework to evaluate Ramsar implementation at the national level and evaluating one country’s (Iceland) progress towards achieving the goals of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) —the only global Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) focused exclusively on the conservation and wise use of a specific ecosystem type. It does so through: Exploring the status and trends of Ramsar-designated wetlands and wetlands in general in Iceland; Evaluating progress towards Iceland's goals for wetland restoration and conservation; Analysing Iceland's Ramsar reporting to determine its adequacy in assessing progress towards Ramsar goals; Comparing Iceland's performance against its Ramsar commitments to assess its effectiveness in meeting these obligations; and Comparing Iceland’s progress in wetlands conservation and restoration with other Arctic states. In addition to improving our understanding of Iceland's progress in implementing its commitments to Ramsar, evaluating two key actions—wetlands conservation and restoration—is crucial. These actions have significant climate change adaptation and mitigation benefits and are important not only for Ramsar but also with regards to Iceland's ability to meet its commitments to two key global MEAs: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Verk
The Central Arctic Ocean as a beacon of hope for the global ocean
(2025-10-17) Huntington, Henry P.; Fong, Allison; Lynch, Amanda; Hovelsrud, Grete; Dawson, Jackie; Macias-Fauria, Marc; Pan, Min; Troublé, Romain; Fox, Shari; Jansen, Teunis; Barry, Tom; School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The global ocean faces unprecedented challenges from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. The Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement is a rare, if not unprecedented, example of precautionary action in marine management. Further action is needed to address other forms of industrial activity in the region. Done well, this example can provide a model for sustainable ocean management around the world, based on sound evidence, inclusive governance, and long-term thinking.
Verk
Mush Disaggregation and Dike Propagation Timescales at Active Volcanoes: Evidence from the 2022–2023 Fagradalsfjall Eruptions
(Oxford University Press, 2025-06) Caracciolo, Alberto; Marshall, Edward W.; Mutch, Euan; Bali, Enikő; Halldórsson, Sæmundur Ari; Matthews, Simon; Sigmarsson, Olgeir; Maclennan, John; Merrill, Heini; Gísladóttir, Bryndís Ýr; Johnson, Sóley M.; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H; Robin, Jóhann Gunnarsson; Rúnarsdóttir, Rebekka Hlín; Jarðvísindadeild (HÍ); Faculty of Earth Sciences (UI); Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI)
The architectures of magma plumbing systems and timescales of magmatic processes are fundamental to understanding volcanic eruption dynamics. This is especially crucial when investigating the rejuvenation of magma plumbing system that have been dormant for extended periods, as their long-term evolution is poorly understood, making eruption monitoring more challenging. The 2021–2023 Fagradalsfjall eruptions provide a unique perspective on the initial stages and temporal evolution of a basaltic magma plumbing system, since its previous eruptions occurred ~7000 years ago. In this study, we focus on the 2022 and 2023 Fagradalsfjall eruptions, integrating our petrological and geochemical dataset with data from the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption. We show that the 2022 and 2023 Fagradalsfjall eruptions were sourced from a near-Moho magma domain at ~14 km depth, similar to the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption. However, clinopyroxene–melt barometry suggests that the 2022 and 2023 magmas experienced crystallization in an incipient mid-crustal reservoir or during slow ascent within the magma conduit. The 2022 and 2023 Fagradalsfjall lavas show substantially less compositional variation than the 2021 lavas and are dominated by geochemically enriched compositions that became apparent after the first 40 days of the 2021 event. Olivine mesocrysts (100–500 μm in length) and plagioclase macrocrysts (>500 μm in length) constitute two different populations in the crystal cargo. Olivine mesocrysts are interpreted as autocrysts that crystallized from the host magma, whereas the plagioclase crystals, which are out of chemical equilibrium with the host magma, are derived from a crystal mush. Olivine and plagioclase diffusion timescales represent two different processes. Plagioclase diffusion timescales reveal the erosion of crystal mushes, a process that unfolded over the months and days prior to the 2022 and 2023 eruptions. The decreasing duration of these timescales from 2021 to 2023 suggests an increasingly rapid response of the plumbing system to deep melt injections and the progressive shortening of unrest timescales. In contrast, olivine diffusion timescales capture the timing and duration of dike opening and propagation from near-Moho depths, as evidenced by the correlation between their cumulative frequency distribution and pre-seismic activity. Combined geophysical, petrological, and barometric data suggest that the 2022–2023 propagating dikes took significantly longer to traverse the lower crust and reach mid-crustal levels compared to the upper crust, which they breached within a few days through a fully established magma pathway. Our results highlight the importance of deep magmatic processes and the need to improve monitoring methods for detecting the early stages of magma accumulation and dike propagation at active volcanoes in geological settings similar to Iceland.
Verk
How close is too close? Mapping the impact area of renewable energy infrastructure on tourism
(Elsevier, 2022-03-22) Tverijonaite, Edita; Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Dóra; Ólafsdóttir, Rannveig; Hall, C. Michael; Líf- og umhverfisvísindadeild (HÍ); Life and Environmental Sciences (UI); Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI)
Estimating the spatial extent of the impacts of renewable energy infrastructure on tourism is crucial for the identification of potential locations of resource use conflict. Such a task, however, is complicated and requires inclusion of social perceptions on the spatial extent of the impacts. This study investigates perceptions of the tourism industry in Iceland regarding the impact area of existing and proposed energy projects on tourism and analyses the factors affecting its size and shape. It is based on semi-structured interviews with tourism service providers, during which participants mapped their perceived impact areas using participatory mapping software. The results revealed that the reasoning affecting the perceived spatial extent of the impacts falls into three categories: visibility of renewable energy infrastructure and related environmental impacts; tourist mobility; and changes in tourism due to energy projects. Moreover, the impacts of the proposed energy projects were perceived as more negative compared to existing ones. Energy projects were considered less suitable in wilderness areas, which were defined by the tourism service providers as an important resource for nature-based tourism, but more acceptable in developed areas. Thus, the spatial extent of the impacts and the compatibility of renewable energy infrastructure with tourism highly depend on changes in place meanings and tourism processes brought by energy infrastructure as well as affected elements of tourism networks. This emphasizes the importance of including tourism stakeholder perceptions and knowledge into the early stages of energy planning to ensure sustainable development of both the tourism and energy industries.
Verk
The interrelationships between renewable energy infrastructure and tourism: A thematic literature review
(Elsevier, 2024-09-28) Tverijonaite, Edita; Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Dóra; Ólafsdóttir, Rannveig; Hall, H. Michael; Líf- og umhverfisvísindadeild (HÍ); Life and Environmental Sciences (UI); Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ); School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI)
Increasing demand for renewable energy and rapid tourism growth point to the need for a better overview of the factors affecting the compatibility of renewable energy infrastructure (REI) with tourism. This study aims to systematically review existing research on the interrelationships between REI and tourism, to identify their type and character and the factors affecting them, and to critically discuss planning and policy implications. Analysis of 61 original articles published in international peer-reviewed journals revealed opportunities for synergic relationships, but also showed REI can negatively impact tourist experience, leading to reduced tourism demand and economic loss. Three groups of factors shaping the interrelationships between REI and tourism were identified: (1) factors related to REI, (2) locational factors, and (3) factors related to tourism stakeholders. These factors should be considered while planning REI developments to ensure sustainable coexistence with tourism, but their role highly depends on the context surrounding each REI project. The findings highlight the importance of tourism stakeholder inclusion through participatory approaches in the early stages of renewable energy planning to ensure the identification and potential preservation of resources crucial for tourism.