Permafrost in Northern Europe - permafrost distribution and dynamics in Iceland and Norway

The sensitivity of the upper permafrost layers with respect to decadal climatic changes and the potential consequences of permafrost evolution on surface processes, landscape dynamics and natural hazards in high-alpine environments makes knowledge about t he spatial distribution patterns of mountain permafrost fundamentally important. The distribution of permafrost in Scandinavia is well studied in southern Norway and locally in northern Sweden. However, on Iceland, quantitative knowledge of permafrost dis tribution is sparse. This project aims to increase the knowledge of permafrost distribution in these areas, by starting a permafrost mapping and monitoring programme on selected test sites, including the assessment of permafrost dynamics. Concerning mountain permafrost in Eur ope, Iceland represent a key area for understanding climate-permafrost relationships, with Iceland being the westernmost, maritime. Southern ond northern Norway describes here the transition to the Arctic continuous permafrost on Svalbard. Thus the project will additionally gain information on weathering rates and creep of the debris mantle in mountain regions, providing useful inform ation and input to risk assessment for settlement below such slopes, as well as possible risk analyses for various constructions (such as hydropower projects) at higher altitudes.