Jökull - 01.12.1986, Síða 65

TABLE 2. Seasonal summary 1751 — 1760. (Con-
struction as for Table 1.) Total number of possible
seasonal descriptions: 160; total number of cold
winters and springs: 30; mild winters and springs: 15;
partly mild, partly cold winters and springs: 7; others:
3; no data: 25. Total number of cold summers and'
autumns: 8; mild summers and autumns: 13; wet
summers and autumns: 10; dry summers and
autumns: 1; cold and wet summers and autumns: 6;
cold and dry summers and autumns: —; mild and dry
summers and autumns: 3; mild and wet summers and
autumns: 1; variable summers and autumns: 7; others:
2; no data: 29.
records: “Drift ice off the eastern and western fjords
but no ice in the north.” This is unusual. 1705 was a
severe ice year, with ice reaching the south coast. This
was also a cold and wet summer. In 1706, sea ice
came to the north “at the time of the beginning of
summer” (22 April) “but it was not land-fast for long
and it did not stay far into the summer” (Vallaannáll).
There was also sea ice in the east according to Fitja-
annáll. In 1708, the ice was first seen in the north
around 8 February. It continued to drift in and out for
some time although it was never land-fast. On 5 May,
the ice did come right into the coast “everywhere in
the north” (Vallaannáll).
1711-1720
The next decade, 1711 to 1720, was slightly colder
than the previous one, but was relatively mild com-
pared to other decades (see Figure 2). There were no
exceptionally severe winters, although 1718 and 1720
TABLE 3. A Summary of the Seasons 1781-
To/?a 3. Megineinkenni árstíöa 1781 — 1784
1784
Year District Winter Spring Summer Autumn Sea ice duration
North Mild Variable Good Variable April to early June
1781 South Mild Reasonable Mild
East Mild Reasonable Good Variable
West Mild Reasonable Good Wet
North Severe at end Severe Cold and dry Very cold Mid March — late August
1782 South Severe Severe Cold and dry cold May — June — August
East Severe Very cold Very cold Very cold Early Feb. — Sep.
West Severe Very cold Very cold Mainly cold End March — late August
North Severe Variable Variable Cold 9 March — August
1783* South Reasonable Mild Cold Cold
East Severe Cold Cold Cold May — end August
West Cold Reasonable Cold Cold June — August
North Severe Very cold Cold Reasonable January — July
1784 South Severe Very cold Cold Reasonable
East Severe Very cold Reasonable Reasonable March — June
West Severe Very cold Cold Reasonable January — June
TABLE 3. This table shows the main characteristics of the seasons during 1781 to 1784. The terminology used
•s that of the contemporary observers. The duration of sea ice off the coasts is also given (New Style dates). For
the sea ice column only “west” should be taken as meaning “northwest”. In 1782, sea ice is said to have re-
turned to the southern coast (Rangárvallasýsla) on 14 August, but it is not stated how long it remained. It was,
however, lying just off the Westman Islands in late August (see the discussion of 1782 in the text).
63