Glaciology and volcanology on the centenary of Sigurður Þórarinsson's birth: a special issue

Abstract

The year 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of the late Sigurður Þórarinsson, the first professor of geology at the University of Iceland. His legacy is widely recognized in the international geoscientific community and the highest award of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI), the Thorarinsson Medal, is awarded to scientists for outstanding contributions to volcanology. Sigurður’s influence on Icelandic geoscientists was immense both through his university teaching and scientific collaborations. Although his research spanned a broad range of geosciences, including e.g. physical geography, geomorphology, periglacial features, and studies of interglacial sediments and tectonic earthquakes, his main fields of research were glaciology and volcanology in a broad context. Sigurður was president of the Iceland Glaciological Society from 1969 till his death, leader of most of its annual expeditions to Vatnajökull from 1953, and co-editor and frequent contributor to its scientific journal Jökull. This special issue of Jökull is dedicated to Sigurður’s contribution to geosciences and long-lasting influence on research in glaciology and volcanology in Iceland. This special issue contains an overview of Sigurður Þórarinsson’s life and scientific career by Sigurður Steinþórsson, ten peer-reviewed papers on different aspects of glaciology, glacial geomorphology and volcanology, Sigurður’s principal research fields and three society documentaries by two of Sigurður’s travel companions.