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Climate Change and the Arctic
FALL 2022SPRING 2023FALL 2023
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Home » Programs » Iceland » Fall 2022: Iceland: Climate Change and the Arctic
Study the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and societies. Visit renewable energy centers, glaciers and awe-inspiring scenery.
Relevant previous coursework
Aug 24 – Dec 3
Program Countries
Program Base
Critical Global Issue of Study
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Why study climate change in Iceland?
The power of nature is evident in Iceland. Here you'll study the causes of climate change and its impacts on the critical environment of the Arctic and the entire planet. Witness the astonishing beauty of glaciers, volcanoes, fjords, geothermal fields, highlands, lava flows, rugged coastline, and waterfalls. On excursions to Iceland's remote Westfjords region and throughout Iceland, you'll see the impact of global warming on glaciers and ice sheets. Observe ground zero of climate change amidst stunning landscapes while learning about renewable technologies that can help slow the damage.
Learn about climate models and carbon management from experts on the front lines of the fight against global warming. Fieldwork will introduce you to scientific methods, data collection and ethical issues related to climate research in Iceland. At the same time, you'll live with an Icelandic family in Ísafjörður, a remote town of deep blue fjords and flat-topped mountains seldom visited by tourists.
Explore Reykjavik, Iceland's dynamic capital.
Study at the University Center of the Westfjords in northwestern Iceland.
Visit the deserted village of Hesteryri and the geothermal valley of Haukadalur.
Spend 10 days traveling the famed Ring Road that circles the entire country.
Previous college-level coursework or background in engineering, earth sciences, sustainability, environmental policy, sociology, biology, geology, geography, chemistry, archaeology, or environmental science/studies.
In Iceland, you'll be on the move, studying the impact of global warming on glaciers and ice sheets while discovering the country's changing climate and renewable energy technologies. Breathtaking landscapes abound. Excursions include Geysir, a geyser that's been active for 10,000 years, and Akureyri, described as the capital of North Iceland. You'll also visit highlands, waterfalls, black sand beaches, geothermal fields, rugged coastlines, fjords, volcanoes, and a deserted village in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. A 10-day road trip following the Ring Road takes you around the entire country. Stops include the largest glacier in Europe and its lagoon, the geothermal area around Lake Mývatn, and the island of Grimsey within the Arctic Circle.
No study trip to Iceland would be complete without an excursion to Reykjavik on the coast of Iceland and the northernmost capital of a sovereign state in the world. It's also one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world. Settled in 874 AD, Reykjavik means "smoky bay" due to the steam rising from hot springs. During your visit, you may visit the national museum to trace Iceland's Viking history.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Ísafjörður can be difficult in the wintertime, but as far as I am concerned, that is what makes this place a suitable base from which to learn about challenges facing Arctic communities.
Spring 2017 Student
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
Assess the feasibility of existing carbon management strategies and design new targets to meet goals.
Use software to generate climate models.
Analyze and contextualize climate literature within its proper field and theoretical background.
Identify uncertainties in climate research.
Clarify the physical processes of climate forcings and generate potential feedback loops under various climate scenarios.
Assess the efficacy and limitations of climate-driven ecosystem impact research.
Conduct a project on climate change using appropriate research methodologies and tools for field-based research and in observance of academic and professional ethics.
Read more about Program Learning Outcomes.
Access virtual library guide.
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Please expand the sections below to see detailed course information, including course codes, credits, overviews, and syllabi.
Overview of Arctic climate, landforms, and ecosystems and human interaction
Consequences of climate change and preventing negative impact
Scientific methods, data collection, and ethics of climate research
Indigenous knowledge of changes in climate
Consequences of climate change and ideas for solutions
Climate Modeling and Carbon Management
Climate Modeling and Carbon Management – syllabus
(ENGR3000 / 3 credits)
This seminar focuses on the analysis and use of climate models in understanding and projecting climate change in the future. Though climate models are based on quantitative data and physical principles and have been proven to reproduce climate projections, they are constantly subjected to more systematic evaluation for higher fidelity. Estimates based on climate variables such as temperature and cloud or cryospheric feedbacks provide high credibility for scientific climate change projections. Though a reliable model of metrics for climate projections is yet to be developed, interactive aerosols are now included in most climate models and substantial progress has been made in the areas of computational methods and the simulation of modes of climate variability. The seminar also addresses issues of gas emission, carbon containment, and management. The focus is on Iceland's innovative experiments with carbon storage and the development of renewable energies. The seminar relies on resources available through program partners including University Centre of the Westfjords, University of Akureyri, and the University of Iceland.
The Arctic: Changing Ecosystems and Resilience
The Arctic: Changing Ecosystems and Resilience – syllabus
(ENVI3000 / 3 credits)
The Arctic, a region of major importance to the world, is changing rapidly. This seminar makes the effects of climate change in this unique part of the world a subject of discussion. It addresses the conditions of change in the Arctic, spanning ecological, social, and political-economic contexts. The seminar also considers community adaptation to the changing environment around them. Sessions will take place in different parts of Iceland in cooperation with program partners and working groups of the Arctic Council. You will meet with experts on the topics of indigenous issues, Arctic governance and cooperation, environmental issues, and the changing Arctic economy.
Research Methods and Ethics in the Arctic
Research Methods and Ethics in the Arctic – syllabus
In this seminar, students are introduced to recent research on climate change. Students become familiar with the methodologies employed in natural and social science research on climate change as well as in renewable energy and sustainability studies. Students select and analyze relevant issues surrounding climate change in the Arctic, including its impact on ecosystems and human communities, in consultation with program faculty. Students will work independently or in small groups to research and identify an existing problem related to climate change in the Arctic and produce a research proposal for their Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection. This course gives students the opportunity to engage on a deeper level with the topics covered in the seminars and to develop their academic and research skills. Support is provided throughout the course by program faculty, particularly in aiding students in finding resources and Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection advisors in Iceland.
Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection
Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection – syllabus
(ISPR3000 / 6 credits)
The Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection should provide a design for the protection of Arctic climate through a renewable energy, behavioral practice, or a creative method/approach to track climate change in the Arctic. Students have the opportunity to work independently or in small groups on their projects. Another aim of the Research Project in Arctic Climate Protection is to build collaborative partnerships with local scientific and indigenous communities for the enhancement of innovative approaches to climate change.
Potential project topics include:
Thinning of ice sheets and glacier retreat
Melting permafrost
Ecosystem carbon sequestration
Arctic air pollution
Climate change impacts on traditional lifestyles
Communicating climate science
Arctic tourism and climate change
Invasive species proliferation and altered migration patterns caused by climate change
Live with a family in Ísafjörður, the capital of the Westfjords region, for three weeks. Staying with an Icelandic family gives you insight into Icelanders' everyday life, culture, and language. Discuss climate change, among other topics, with your hosts around the dinner table — a favorite Icelandic pastime. Try out your conversational Icelandic and improve your pronunciation with the help of your host family. Locals tend to be a little on the reserved side but also very kind and tolerant.
The Westfjords is known for its rich history steeped in folklore. For centuries, locals passed long dark winter nights telling stories, handing down tales and legends steeped in mysticism and magic from generation to generations. Ask your hosts in Ísafjörður to share some of their favorites with you.
A town of 2,500, Ísafjörður serves as an urban center for the remote Westfjords, offering services such as a hospital, schools, cafes, museums and art venues. Your host family will be a great source of information about local hikes and hot springs.
When on excursions you will stay at hostels.
Relevant career paths:
Climate modeling and environmental planning
Climate impact, vulnerability, and adaptation research
Field monitoring station management
Iceland: Climate Change and the Arctic
Daniel P. Govoni, PhD Candidate
Lísbet Harðardóttir
View Program Lecturers
SIT Study Abroad is committed to making international education accessible to all students. Scholarship awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs and $500 to $3,000 for summer programs. This year, SIT will award more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students.
SIT Study Abroad Iceland: Climate Change and the Arctic
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