H. Björnsson, ,Jöklar Á Íslandi (Glaciers of Iceland) (2009) Opna,Reykjavík 479 pp., Price: ISK...
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Book review H. Bjo ¨ rnsson. Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi (Glaciers of Iceland), Opna, Reykjavı´k (2009)., 479 pp., Price: ISK 19,990 (Hardback: approximately £100). In Icelandic, with an English summary, ISBN 978-9935-10-004-7 Most travellers visiting Iceland tend to return with at least one large-format photographic coffee-table book stuffed in their luggage, picked up from one of the tourist honey-traps dotted around the country. These books inevitably contain beautiful and dramatic images of different parts of Iceland, showcasing the contrast between volcanic and glacial landscapes that makes Iceland such a visually arresting travel destination. To place Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi in the same category is perhaps unfair, but at the outset, this is not an academic text, and as such is probably more akin to a coffee-table volume. However, this description substantially under-sells the quality and value of what is a unique book, and one that should be a required addition to the personal library of any self-respecting researcher of Icelandic glaciers. Although the bulk of the book is written in Icelandic, with only a very short English summary at the very end, the sheer number of illustrations and photographs make this book surprisingly accessible, and a rudimentary understanding of Icelandic (i.e. that gained from a few visits to the country) allows the meaning of most captions and some of the text to be gleaned. To start with, the book is almost a coffee table in itself, in a monumental hardback format that would make it a substantial contribution to anyones luggage allowance. However, in addition to the size and weight of the book, what makes Jo ¨klar A ´ I ´ slandi unique is that its author is an academic of international standing, which means (if you can read it) the text accompanying the photographs is scientifically rigorous. Internationally, Helgi Bjo ¨rnsson is probably the best-known Icelandic glaciologist of modern times, having dedicated his career to co-ordinating the detailed survey and monitoring of Icelandic glaciers, as well as working with numerous international research teams. This book in part marks the formal retirement of this illustrious figure from the University of Iceland, and feels very much like a personal homage by the author to the glaciers that have been the focus of his career. Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi presents a comprehensive photographic record of all the ice masses across the country, with an accompanying narrative that provides an historical overview of observations by travellers and researchers on each glacier, as well as a more human account of events recorded since the occupation of Iceland. Throughout the book, Jo ¨klar A ´ I ´ slandi is lavishly supported with colour photographs, illustra- tions, maps and drawings, and more than justifies the cover price of the book. The first quarter of Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi provides an historical overview of glacier observations made by numerous travellers, and the development of Icelandic glacial research, as well as a conceptual overview of the structure, dynamics and significance of glaciers at an Icelandic and global level. For the non-Icelandic reader, these chapters are probably of the least interest, although the photographs documenting the initial years of systematic Icelandic glaciology in the early 20th century provide a fascinating insight to the heroic and often idiosyncratic characters conducting this work, and the logistical barriers they had to overcome. It perhaps seems unfair to criticise any aspect of this amazing book, but I will level just one critical comment. Much of the early part of the book concerns itself with the Quaternary ice-age cycle, and it would have been useful for there to have been a short review of the evidence of Late Quaternary and early Holocene glaciation of Iceland, if only to show the dynamic variations of the ice-caps and ice sheet since the Last Glacial Maximum. There are hints of this longer term variation provided in some of the narratives on individual ice-caps later on, but an overview would have really added a new dimension to the book. However, this is at most a minor omission on what is otherwise a wonderful book. After these initial chapters, Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi presents a photographic gazetteer of Icelandic glaciers, starting with an overview of glaciation of the whole country, before focusing on individual regions and ice-caps. Perhaps reflecting Helgi Bjo ¨ rns- son’s own research career, which has focused on the large ice-caps of Iceland, there is an emphasis on Vatnajo ¨ kull, to which 150 pages of the book are dedicated, although this also reflects the relative size and variety of this ice-cap. However, there are at least a few pages devoted to every glaciated area in the country, including the areas of small-scale mountain glaciation in central and northern Iceland. Each glaciated region is examined systematically, with a mixture of photographs taken by the author during his long career, as well as historical photographs and illustrations to demonstrate key events and changes over time, and repeat aerial photographs of selected glaciers. The quality of this photographic archive is incredible, including for example what is one of the only colour photographs of the 1918 Katla eruption beneath My ´ rdalsjo ¨ kull (perhaps soon to be repeated?). In addition to this astounding photographic archive, Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi presents often unpublished maps of sub-glacial bedrock topography derived from detailed geophysical surveys, as well as outcomes of glacier-climate modelling predicting response of glaciers to future climate change. The final 70 or so pages of Jo ¨ klar A ´ I ´ slandi provide a compendium of useful notes and information, including a timeline of observations associated with Icelandic glaciers since first occupation, as well as a listing of the relative areas of all the glaciers (or glacierised regions) and coverage of satellite and aerial photography. This is followed by some large-format sub-glacial topographic maps of the major ice-caps, as well as timing and magnitude of known glacier outburst floods. Finally, after a 10- page English summary, there is a very detailed reference list, primarily of Icelandic research outputs, which, again, is of great use for those trying to track down often elusive data on past behaviour of Icelandic glaciers. In summary, this is an astounding book that is clearly superior to all the coffee-table photographic books mentioned at the start of Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 121 (2010) 352–353 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pgeola 0016-7878/$ – see front matter doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.06.006
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Transcript of H. Björnsson, ,Jöklar Á Íslandi (Glaciers of Iceland) (2009) Opna,Reykjavík 479 pp., Price: ISK...
Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 121 (2010) 352–353
Book review
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association
journa l homepage: www.e lsev ier .com/ locate /pgeola
H. Bjornsson. Joklar A Islandi (Glaciers of Iceland), Opna,Reykjavık (2009)., 479 pp., Price: ISK 19,990 (Hardback:approximately £100). In Icelandic, with an English summary,ISBN 978-9935-10-004-7
Most travellers visiting Iceland tend to return with at least onelarge-format photographic coffee-table book stuffed in theirluggage, picked up from one of the tourist honey-traps dottedaround the country. These books inevitably contain beautiful anddramatic images of different parts of Iceland, showcasing thecontrast between volcanic and glacial landscapes that makesIceland such a visually arresting travel destination. To place JoklarA Islandi in the same category is perhaps unfair, but at the outset,this is not an academic text, and as such is probably more akin to acoffee-table volume. However, this description substantiallyunder-sells the quality and value of what is a unique book, andone that should be a required addition to the personal library ofany self-respecting researcher of Icelandic glaciers. Although thebulk of the book is written in Icelandic, with only a very shortEnglish summary at the very end, the sheer number of illustrationsand photographs make this book surprisingly accessible, and arudimentary understanding of Icelandic (i.e. that gained from a fewvisits to the country) allows the meaning of most captions andsome of the text to be gleaned.
To start with, the book is almost a coffee table in itself, in amonumental hardback format that would make it a substantialcontribution to anyones luggage allowance. However, in additionto the size and weight of the book, what makes Joklar A Islandiunique is that its author is an academic of international standing,which means (if you can read it) the text accompanying thephotographs is scientifically rigorous. Internationally, HelgiBjornsson is probably the best-known Icelandic glaciologist ofmodern times, having dedicated his career to co-ordinating thedetailed survey and monitoring of Icelandic glaciers, as well asworking with numerous international research teams. This bookin part marks the formal retirement of this illustrious figurefrom the University of Iceland, and feels very much like apersonal homage by the author to the glaciers that have beenthe focus of his career. Joklar A Islandi presents a comprehensivephotographic record of all the ice masses across the country,with an accompanying narrative that provides an historicaloverview of observations by travellers and researchers on eachglacier, as well as a more human account of events recordedsince the occupation of Iceland. Throughout the book, Joklar AIslandi is lavishly supported with colour photographs, illustra-tions, maps and drawings, and more than justifies the cover priceof the book.
The first quarter of Joklar A Islandi provides an historicaloverview of glacier observations made by numerous travellers, andthe development of Icelandic glacial research, as well as aconceptual overview of the structure, dynamics and significanceof glaciers at an Icelandic and global level. For the non-Icelandic
0016-7878/$ – see front matter
doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.06.006
reader, these chapters are probably of the least interest, althoughthe photographs documenting the initial years of systematicIcelandic glaciology in the early 20th century provide a fascinatinginsight to the heroic and often idiosyncratic characters conductingthis work, and the logistical barriers they had to overcome. Itperhaps seems unfair to criticise any aspect of this amazing book,but I will level just one critical comment. Much of the early part ofthe book concerns itself with the Quaternary ice-age cycle, and itwould have been useful for there to have been a short review of theevidence of Late Quaternary and early Holocene glaciation ofIceland, if only to show the dynamic variations of the ice-caps andice sheet since the Last Glacial Maximum. There are hints of thislonger term variation provided in some of the narratives onindividual ice-caps later on, but an overview would have reallyadded a new dimension to the book. However, this is at most aminor omission on what is otherwise a wonderful book.
After these initial chapters, Joklar A Islandi presents aphotographic gazetteer of Icelandic glaciers, starting with anoverview of glaciation of the whole country, before focusing onindividual regions and ice-caps. Perhaps reflecting Helgi Bjorns-son’s own research career, which has focused on the large ice-capsof Iceland, there is an emphasis on Vatnajokull, to which 150 pagesof the book are dedicated, although this also reflects the relativesize and variety of this ice-cap. However, there are at least a fewpages devoted to every glaciated area in the country, including theareas of small-scale mountain glaciation in central and northernIceland. Each glaciated region is examined systematically, with amixture of photographs taken by the author during his long career,as well as historical photographs and illustrations to demonstratekey events and changes over time, and repeat aerial photographs ofselected glaciers. The quality of this photographic archive isincredible, including for example what is one of the only colourphotographs of the 1918 Katla eruption beneath Myrdalsjokull(perhaps soon to be repeated?). In addition to this astoundingphotographic archive, Joklar A Islandi presents often unpublishedmaps of sub-glacial bedrock topography derived from detailedgeophysical surveys, as well as outcomes of glacier-climatemodelling predicting response of glaciers to future climate change.
The final 70 or so pages of Joklar A Islandi provide acompendium of useful notes and information, including a timelineof observations associated with Icelandic glaciers since firstoccupation, as well as a listing of the relative areas of all theglaciers (or glacierised regions) and coverage of satellite and aerialphotography. This is followed by some large-format sub-glacialtopographic maps of the major ice-caps, as well as timing andmagnitude of known glacier outburst floods. Finally, after a 10-page English summary, there is a very detailed reference list,primarily of Icelandic research outputs, which, again, is of great usefor those trying to track down often elusive data on past behaviourof Icelandic glaciers.
In summary, this is an astounding book that is clearly superiorto all the coffee-table photographic books mentioned at the start of
Book review / Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 121 (2010) 352–353 353
this review. A warning; do not start flicking through this book in abookshop at the airport or a stop on the tourist trail; you willprobably miss your flight or tourist bus as you get drawn in to thephotographs and images within Joklar A Islandi. My recommen-dation is that if you see this book, remove your credit card fromyour purse or wallet and just buy it: although it is an investment, itwill reward your commitment. The author has suggested that ifthere is appropriate demand, an English translation may beconsidered in the future, and I would whole-heartedly supportsuch an initiative: however, in the mean-time, buy this book, asyou will not regret it.
Simon Carr*Department of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End
Road, London E1 4NS, UK
*Tel.: +44 20 7882 2780; fax: +44 20 8981 6276E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Carr)
24 June 2010Available online 1 August 2010
