POLLEN-ANALYTICAL STUDIES ON THE 



VEGETATION AND CLIMATE HISTORY OF 



ICELAND IN LATE AND POST-GLACIAL TIMES 



Thorleifur Einarsson 



University Research Institute, Reykjavik, Iceland 



The pollen-analytical work in Late and Post-Glaciai bog- and lake-deposits in 

 Iceland has recently been started. Previous pollen analyses have been carried 

 out by Thorarinsson (1944, 1955), Okko (1956). and Straka (1956). The 

 present author started his studies in 1954 and has since examined 20 bog 

 profiles from different localities in Iceland. The older investigations fit well 

 into the present zonation scheme (Th. Einarsson, 1961). 



This late start of such studies in Iceland is due mainly to the following 

 facts. The Icelandic Flora counts only 440 species of vascular plants, when the 

 genera Hieracium and Taraxacum are excluded. The only forest tree in 

 Iceland is Betula pubescens-tortuosa. Therefore the pollen production is 

 very low and there is a scarcity of pollen grains in the young bog and lake 

 deposits (peat and diatomite mud). 



The climate of Iceland is oceanic, i.e. humid with cool summers and 

 relatively mild winters. The mean temperature in July is 9°-ll^C, in January 

 about C^C in southern Iceland and -2 to -6'C in northern Iceland. The mean 

 precipitation is as high as 2200 mm in southern Iceland (Vik Myrdal) but only 

 465 mm in Akureyri, northern Iceland. The weather is very changeable due 

 to the low-pressure tracks in the North Atlantic. The mild climate is a result 

 of the strong influence exerted by the Gulf Stream. 



Approximately 10 per cent of Iceland is covered with bogs which can be 

 divided into two groups: 



(1) The "Floi" bogs, i.e. topogenic bogs; and, 



(2) The "Hallamyri" bogs, i.e. bogs on hill and mountain sides, which are 

 fed mainly by precipitation and run-off water. 



Most of the Icelandic pollen profiles are from bogs of the latter type. 



The first two profiles show the typical trend in ordinary pollen diagrams 

 from Iceland. In pollen diagram 1 from Moldhaugar, Eyjafjordur, northern 

 Iceland (Fig. 1), three 5e/w/a-maxima can be seen: 



A. The first 5e/w/fl-maximum is probably of Late Glacial age. but in the 

 absence of C^^ datings this cannot be verified. 



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