Publication Date
Spring 2026
Abstract
Ice jam floods (IJFs) present significantly more risk than open-water floods of the same magnitude due to fast-moving layers of ice. Climate change is warming Arctic regions multiple times faster than the rest of the world, causing significant concern for the potential for IJFs to become more frequent and/or severe in some locations. However, the features that make IJFs incredibly dangerous (e.g., volatile debris, rapid onset, difference in behavior compared to open- water floods) also make them difficult to monitor and record. Many methods have been developed around the world to gain information about past IJFs and measure their flood stage, but most of these methods have limited applicability in Iceland due to a lack of historical IJF data. While Iceland does not currently have many trees, recent reforestation efforts present new possibilities for the use of tree scars to monitor and measure IJFs. This study uses a visual analysis of tree scars in SW Iceland to match scars to known IJF events. The effectiveness of the visual dating of tree scars and the viability of using tree scar analyses to gather information about past IJF events in Iceland are assessed. Photos are taken of tree scars with a scale instrument next to the tree. These photos are analyzed to measure SH and attempt to match each scar to known IJF events. The visual analysis could not ensure absolute accuracy but still proved to be effective for estimating the age of tree scars. Recommendations are made for a future study building upon the data gathered for this study and for future research on IJFs in Iceland and the visual dating of tree scars.
Disciplines
Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Gustafson, Kyle, "ASSESSING THE VIABILITY OF TREE SCAR MEASUREMENTS FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF PAST ICE JAM FLOOD EVENTS IN ICELAND" (2026). Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic. 9.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/icc2/9