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Hydrological maps

ÍSOR's hydrological maps show the interplay of water and the earth — surface water, groundwater and their flow to the sea.

Example of an ÍSOR hydrological map.
Example of an ÍSOR hydrological map.

Hydrological maps (vatnafarskort) are specialised geological maps that describe the interplay of water and the earth. They are important base data for various kinds of planning work and environmental assessment. They show both surface water and groundwater and their flow to the sea.

Hydrological maps show

  • Permeability of different geological formations
  • Depth to groundwater and/or sea water
  • Springs, their temperature and water volume
  • Stream-gauging stations in rivers together with information on average flow and catchment area
  • Geothermal activity, i.e. hot springs and pools, temperature, temperature gradient and rock temperature at a given depth
  • Structures related to the use of water, such as boreholes, water sources and water pipelines

Published hydrological maps

  • Árni Hjartarson 1986: Búrfell – Langalda, vatnafarskort 3540 V. Orkustofnun – Landsvirkjun, Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson 1988: Vatnafarskort, Sigalda-Veiðivötn, 3340 V. Orkustofnun og Landsvirkjun, Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson 1994: Vatnafarskort, Þjórsárver 1914 III, 1:50.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun og Landsvirkjun.
  • Árni Hjartarson 1997: Ölfus – Selvogur. Jarðhiti og vatnafar, 1:50.000. Orkustofnun, Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson, L.J. Andersen, N. Kelstrup, J. Rasmussen, W. Struckmeier 1980: International Hydrogeological Map of Europe, 1:1,500,000. Sheet B2 Islan. Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaft und Rohstoffe, Hannover, UNESCO, Paris.
  • Árni Hjartarson, Einar Gunnlaugsson, Freysteinn Sigurðsson, Jón Jónsson og Kristján Sæmundsson 1992: Vatnafarskort, Elliðavatn 1613 III SV, 1:25.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun, Hafnarfjarðarbær, Garðabær, Kópavogsbær, Seltjarnarnesbær og Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson Einar Gunnlaugsson, Freysteinn Sigurðsson, Jón Jónsson og Kristján Sæmundsson 1994: Vatnafarskort, Viðey 1613 III NV, 1:25.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun, Hafnarfjarðarbær, Garðabær, Kópavogsbær, Seltjarnarnesbær og Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson og Freysteinn Sigurðsson 1990: Vatnafarskort, Botnafjöll, 1913 IV, 1:50.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun og Landsvirkjun.
  • Árni Hjartarson og Freysteinn Sigurðsson 1991: Vatnafarskort, Kóngsás 1813 I, 1:50.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun og Landsvirkjun.
  • Árni Hjartarson og Freysteinn Sigurðsson 1993: Vatnafarskort, Vífilsfell 1613 III SA, 1:25.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun, Hafnarfjarðarbær, Garðabær, Kópavogsbær, Seltjarnarnesbær og Reykjavík.
  • Árni Hjartarson og Freysteinn Sigurðsson 1997: Vatnafarskort, Mosfell 1613 III NA, 1:25.000. Landmælingar Íslands, Orkustofnun, Hafnarfjarðarbær, Garðabær, Kópavogsbær, Seltjarnarnesbær og Reykjavík.
  • Bjarni Reyr Kristjánsson, Árni Hjartarson og Haukur Jóhannesson 2003: Snæfellsjökull – Vatnafarskort. In: Jarðvatn á utanverðu Snæfellsnesi. Vatnafarskort og vatnsefnafræði by Bjarni Reyr Kristjánsson. MSc thesis from the University of Iceland 2003.