Thingvellir National Park: Climate, Temperature, and The Solstice

Thingvellir Park is generally considered to be one the “weather paradises” of Iceland. However, the weather in the park, like everywhere else in Iceland is swift to change (Wiki Voyage).

Figure 1: Map showing the location of Thingvellir National Park (Wikipedia).

 Iceland climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream, a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic Ocean current. Winters in Thingvellir National Park are relatively mild for its latitude (N 64°) while a warm summer day can reach to 77 °F (Wikipedia).

Figure 2: Extratropical Cyclones near Iceland (NASA).

Iceland is situated between warm and cold ocean currents and air masses often causing cyclones to pass, especially in winter, through the Thingvellir area. These cyclones bring precipitation and strong winds, which cause rapid changes in weather. The park sits just north of Lake Thingvellir, about an hour inland and experiences a slight continental influence, causing greater variations in temperature. (Wikipedia).

Figure 3: Thingvellir covered in snow (Wikipedia).

In winter, Thingvellir sustains harsher winter temperatures than other parts of the nation partly because of an increase in altitude in the mountainous region and partly because temperature decreases as distance from the sea increases. Monthly temperatures vary considerable from year to year. Thingvellir the lowest mean temperature (from 1936-1988) in January was -7.4 °C and the highest was 2.3 °C. In July, the lowest value was 8.3 °C and the highest was 13.1 °C (Einarsson).

Table 1: Monthly mean temperature got Thingvellir, Reykjavik and Eyrarbakki (Enarsson). 

Because of the Earth’s axis tilt and Iceland’s northern location on the globe the days are long in the summertime and very short in the wintertime. This phenomenon is known as the summer and winter solstices. Between May and August, Thingvellir’s nights may be short and bright. Icelander’s have learned to cope with these varying days by taking naps during the day or simply using blackout curtains. In the wintertime when darkness blankets the land for hours, Icelanders will use special alarm clocks that mimic the rising sun and illuminate their room slowly until their alarm sounds (Ashwin).

Figure 4: Midnight Sun, Iceland (YouTube).

References 

Ashwin. "Midnight Sun And Polar Nights: What Are They And Why Do They Occur?" Science ABC. Science ABC, 20 Jan. 2017. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

"Climate of Iceland." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Mar. 2017. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

Dr. Casey D. Allen, Associate Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences University of Colorado Denver: Introduction to Physical Geography. 

Einarsson, Markús Á., and Markus A. Einarsson. "Climatic Conditions of the Thingvallavatn Area." Oikos 64.1/2 (1992): 96. Web.

"Þingvellir National Park." Þingvellir National Park – Travel Guide at Wikivoyage. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

Figure and Table References 

Figure 1: Wikipedia. "Thingvellir National Park."

Figure 2: Allen, Jesse. Extratropical Cyclones near Iceland. 2006. Earth Observatory, Madison. "Thingvellir Covered in Snow" 

Table 1: Einarsson, Markús Á., and Markus A. Einarsson. "Climatic Conditions of the Thingvallavatn Area." Oikos 64.1/2 (1992): 96. Web.

Figure 3: Wikipedia. "Thingvellir Covered in Snow" 

Figure 4: YouTube. Kenneth, 1 Mar. 2017. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.