The climate of Surtsey

Surtsey, an Icelandic volcanic island, experiences a mild yet windy climate with no monthly mean temperatures below freezing and sustained winds exceeding 20 m/s on average 30 days annually. A comprehensive analysis of meteorological data, collected continuously since 2009, reveals that Surtsey's climate closely resembles that of nearby Vestmannaeyjar stations—Vestmannaeyjabær and Stórhöfði—though wind speeds vary due to local sheltering effects. Precipitation patterns indicate drier summers and the most variable, wettest conditions in October. This study provides the first detailed characterization of Surtsey's climate, leveraging long-term automatic measurements to compare microclimatic differences within the archipelago.

Petersen, G. N., & Jónsson, T. (2020). The climate of Surtsey. Surtsey Research, 14, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.33112/surtsey.14.1