EAS 1101 Final Project (1)

Reykjavik, Iceland

📍64.1470° N, 21.9408° W

In the 2020s we were facing one of the greatest environmental crises: climate change. Now, in 2123, we've finally made it through: the Earth is only about 2°C warmer than pre-industrial levels and we made the necessary changes to avoid catastrophic impacts.

Let's take a look back at everything that led up to where we are today

+ 1.48 °C

The temperature in Reykjavik had already increased 1.48 °C over the course of a century (1920 to 2020)

3.45 °C

The temperature could have increased by approximately this much if CO₂ emissions had continued unabated

The impacts of these changes would have resulted in major glacial melting which would in turn cause sea levels to rise and ground uplift – a rebound effect resulting from unloading of the glaciers due to ice loss.

Magma generation underneath Iceland is increasing due to warming climate. This, coupled with changes in pressure due to glacial recession would cause more frequent and violent volcanic activity.

Comparing with Previous Paleoclimate Changes

Similar events occurred in Iceland during the Pleistocene- Holcene Transition

"The Polar Front began to migrate northward and the relative sea level rose. The deglaciation coincided with increasing volcanic activity and the formation of glacial lakes that drained in repeated catastrophic outburst floods that reached lake basins and the ocean. Evidence for outburst floods during deglaciation is found in coastal areas in South, West and North Iceland "

(Geirsdóttir et al., 2009)

Thankfully, Iceland's committment to renewable energy has aided in mitigating detrimental impacts

The primary energy sources being used in Iceland for the 2020s were

Hydropower

Geothermal

Along with other renewables such as wind and biofuels!

The main sources of emissions in Iceland during this time were industrial processes, road transport, agriculture, fisheries, and waste management

Bringing us back to today: with the help of effective policies, investments, and sustainable technologies, we in 2123 can say we've successfully overcome the effects of climate change.

Thanks for watching!