Iceland faces unique air-quality challenges shaped by its volcanic and Arctic environment. Frequent dust storms from glacial outwash plains and volcanic deserts, volcanic eruptions releasing gases and particulates, and emissions from geothermal power plants combine with local sources such as road dust and transport emissions. These natural and anthropogenic factors create large temporal and spatial variations in air pollution that require tailored monitoring and forecasting approaches.

Despite relatively small population and low industrial emissions, air-quality monitoring has been limited outside urban areas. The CAMS NCP enables Iceland to integrate CAMS data into its national systems, improving forecasting, validation, and public information. Collaboration between research, regulatory, and geospatial institutions ensures that CAMS products become a core component of Iceland’s national air-quality management framework. The project is based on cooperation with the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency of Iceland and Natural Science Institute of Iceland.

Ice-Dust webpage