Hydrology in Iceland

Iceland is prominently made up of a central volcanic plateau, and it is ringed by mountains. Nearly 1/9 of the country is covered by lava fields, while another 1/8 is covered by glaciers. Since this landscape is so controversial in elevation, it has a high drainage density. When water flows over the land only a small amount is absorbed, while the rest drains into the drainage basin (flatlands) where rivers and streams are created. This impermeable and non-porous surface mixed with the elevational patterns of the country make it a perfect landscape for radial drainage patterns. We also refer to this type of landscape as a weather-limited landscape, where any particles are easily transported by overland flow and can be redeposited elsewhere.

(Here we see an enlargement of one particular part of a glaciated area of Iceland. We can see 3 glaciers and the surrounding mountainous area that gives iceland such a controversial landscape) 

         http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/glacierMonitoring/home.html

 

 Waterfalls are abundant in Iceland due to a process called overland flow. When there is more water on the surface of the land than can be absorbed into the ground, it can lead to the creation of waterfalls, big and small. This water is known as gravitational water, as it moves with gravity to the water table.

(Here we see the Hvita waterfall in Western Iceland. We can see that the gravitational water is flowing downhill and there is too much to be absorbed by the land, creating overland flow.)
http://iceland.vefur.is/photogalleries/Icelandic_waterfalls/


One type of river found in Iceland is a glacial river. These glacial rivers are created by drainage from the glaciers. As the water flows over the land it creates rills and gullies, and they tend to divide into numerous tributaries that have a dendritic pattern, like the veins of a leaf. One amazing form that can be found only in glaciated areas of the world like Iceland are called sandurs. A sandur (or outwash plain) is formed by glacial sediments deposited by the meltwater of glaciers. Glaciers are full of silt and sediment that they have aquired as they slowly move across areas of land. Water that is melting and running off from the glaciers (glacial rivers) can carry much of this debris away, often depositing it in a large plain, known as a sandur.

 (Here we see the Tungna River in Iceland, you can easily make out the dendritic pattern of the water, as it spreads out into veins)
http://trivoxphoto.photoshelter.com/image/I0000VhdXAeVJBhg

(Skafourwash sandur in Iceland. Here we can see the water flow patterns and the left behind debris that was carried from the glacier.) http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4741260/iceland_skafourwash_sandur


SOURCES:
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/Congo-Democratic-Republic-of-the-to-India/Iceland.html
http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Battle/Destroy/Wx/Weathering/WeatherLimDefine.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outwash_plain
http://www.eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/library/maps/Circumpolar/.../136.pdf