Landshagir - 01.11.2013, Page 31

Geography and environment
LANDSHAGIR 2013 STATISTICAL YEARBOOK OF ICELAND 2013
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Sunshine hours and precipitation in Reykjavík
and Akureyri
Sunny hours in Reykjavik totalled 1,587 in
the year 2012. This is higher than any of
the yearly averages of total sunshine hours
during the years 1951–2010. The second
highest number of sunshine hours in
Iceland‘s capital was recorded in 2005 when
the sun shone brightly for 1,558 hours.
In Akureyri in northern Iceland the total
hours of sunshine in 2012 were also the
highest since 1951 or 1,415 hours, but the
second highest number of sunny hours in
Akureyri was 1,276 in the year 2000.

Despite the high score of sunshine hours
in 2012, the overall precipitation was above
30 year averages in both Akureyri and
Reykjavík. In Reykjavík the highest total
precipitation was measured in 2007 and
in Akureyri the total precipitation was
highest in the year 1984.
More sorting and recycling of waste
Since the year 2000 both sorting and recy-
cling of waste has increased by 53%. Waste
incineration with energy recovery is on
the increase while at the same time the
amount of waste ending up in landfills has
decreased by 46%. Municipal waste was on
average 2.2 tonnes per Icelander in 2008
but 1.6 tonnes in 2011.
Emissions of dioxin have decreased
Dioxin is a persistent organic compound
produced involuntarily during some large
scale human activities. The main reason for
the decrease in dioxin being released into
the environment is that all open-air waste
incinerators have been closed down, the
last one closed in 2010. In 2011, about half
of Iceland‘s dioxin release was from fossil
fuel burning of the Icelandic fishing fleet.
Release from industries has increased by
159% since 1990, although it accounts for
only 3% of the total dioxin release. Dioxin
from power production is negligible in
Iceland, but is significant in many other
countries.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The release of some main greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere from Iceland
has decreased from 4,994 thousand tonnes
in 2008 to 4,413 thousand tonnes in 2011.
The exception is that emissions of HFC‘s
(hydrochlorofluorocarbons) have increased.
Since 1990 the total greenhouse gas emis-
sion has increased by approximately 33%,
mainly due to emission from industrial
processes and geothermal power plants.
The Ozone layer over Reykjavík 335 Du
The total thickness of the ozone column
over Reykjavik has been measured since
1961. Since the measurements are least
effective from November until the end
of January they are concentrated on the
months of February to October every
year. The numbers reveal that the average
thickness of ozone above Reykjavik was
335 Dobson units (Du) in 2012, compared
with 300 Du which is the global average.
The ozone layer is thinnest in the „ozone
hole“ over Antarctica, 100 Du. The thickest
ozone is found at northerly latitudes from
March to May, averaging 400 Du.