Palsa mires (rústamýrar) are among the most threatened habitats in Iceland due to climate change. However, little is known about the current state of palsa mires in Iceland, their biota, rate of change and its relation to local climate, or the implications of permafrost thaw on the surrounding ecosystem and watershed. While general patterns of palsa degradation are documented in other regions, there is a lack of detailed, long-term studies specifically focusing on the extent and rate of permafrost degradation in Icelandic palsa mires, which are affected by volcanic soils and aeolian dust deposition. Although the degradation of these landforms is evident, it remains unclear how responsive different palsa mires are.

To address the lack of knowledge about the current state of Icelandic palsa mires and to promote long-term monitoring, our interdisciplinary project has brought together experts in physical geography, remote sensing, soil science, and terrestrial and freshwater ecology.