Knowledge 1

Safetravel in winter - 31.12.2015

Increasingly, tourists come in winter to enjoy the beauty of the northern lights. Safety while travelling is always crucial, especially in winter conditions.

The web-site Safetravel is run by ICE-SAR in order to minimize the risk of accidents in travelling and tourism in Iceland.

Thorough information on safe travelling can be found there. The 112 Iceland app can be downloaded and your travel plan can be left in safe hands before you go. Additionally, a personal location beacon can be rented at two pick-up places.

HARMONIE - numerical weather prediction model - 16.11.2015

HARMONIE is a numerical weather prediction model (NWP) that is non-hydrostatic and convection-permitting. It is operated at 2.5 km horizontal resolution over a domain that covers Iceland and the surrounding seas. At this resolution it is possible to simulate explicitly some processes that are important for clouds and precipitation as well as meteorological phenomena related to up- and downdrafts. In order to simulate the interaction between the atmosphere and the surface, the model takes into account different types of land surface as well as processes in and at the surface.

The weather app improved - 23.10.2015

Weather forecasts and the current weather condition can be checked through an improved weather app provided by IMO.

Forecasts are now provided for each hour and the meteograms are available again.

Location is detected if GPS on; alerts issued by the Met Office appear automatically during the day and a personal weather watch can be arranged.

An interactive weather map shows weather observations at any station in the country.

Climate change and hydrology: Environmental and societal effects - 4.7.2014

The climate and hydrology of Iceland are highly variable due to natural conditions. Significant changes in these factors over the last 15 years are in harmony with the future scenarios represented and affirmed in the latest IPCC summary report, AR5. The main purpose of IMO is to contribute towards security in society by monitoring, analyzing, interpreting, informing; providing warnings and forecasts and predicting natural hazards. It is important to keep the infrastructure strong so that IMO may fulfill its role.