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Freysteinn Sigmundsson

Freysteinn Sigmundsson

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Earth Science
Iceland
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
57
Citations
10008
World Ranking
2307
National Ranking
4

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Earth Science in Iceland Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Earth Science in Iceland Leader Award
  • 2017 - Member of Academia Europaea

Overview

Freysteinn Sigmundsson is affiliated with the University of Iceland in Iceland and specializes primarily in Earth and Planetary Sciences. Their research portfolio includes a strong focus on geophysics and related subfields such as atmospheric science, oceanography, management, monitoring, policy and law, and earth-surface processes.

The core research themes explored by Sigmundsson cover earthquake and tectonic studies, geological and geochemical analysis, high-pressure geophysics and materials, geophysics and gravity measurements, geology and paleoclimatology research, landslides and related hazards, and geological formations and processes.

Key publications from Sigmundsson's recent work include:

  • Deformation and seismicity decline before the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption (2022, Nature)
  • Unexpected large eruptions from buoyant magma bodies within viscoelastic crust (2020, Nature Communications)
  • Fracturing and tectonic stress drive ultrarapid magma flow into dikes (2024, Science)
  • Deformation, seismicity, and monitoring response preceding and during the 2022 Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland (2023, Bulletin of Volcanology)
  • Eruption risks from covert silicic magma bodies (2021, Geology)

Freysteinn Sigmundsson frequently publishes in several scientific venues, notably:

  • Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (8 publications)
  • Geophysical Research Letters (6 publications)
  • Bulletin of Volcanology (4 publications)
  • Earth and Planetary Science Letters (3 publications)
  • Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth (3 publications)

Collaboration with other researchers is prominent in Sigmundsson's career, with frequent co-authors including Halldór Geirsson, Vincent Drouin, Michelle Parks, Benedíkt G. Ófeigsson, and Sigrún Hreinsdóttir.

In recognition of their contributions to the scientific community, Sigmundsson was named a Member of Academia Europaea in 2017.

Best Publications

  • Segmented lateral dyke growth in a rifting event at Bárðarbunga volcanic system, Iceland

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Andrew Hooper;Sigrún Hreinsdóttir;Kristín S. Vogfjörd

  • Intrusion triggering of the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull explosive eruption

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Sigrún Hreinsdóttir;Andrew Hooper;Thóra Árnadóttir

  • Ice–volcano interaction of the 1996 Gjálp subglacial eruption, Vatnajökull, Iceland

    Magnú T. Gudmundsson;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Helgi Björnsson

  • Gradual caldera collapse at Bárdarbunga volcano, Iceland, regulated by lateral magma outflow

    Magnús T. Gudmundsson;Kristín Jónsdóttir;Andrew Hooper;Eoghan P. Holohan

  • Geophysical constraints on the dynamics of spreading centres from rifting episodes on land

    Tim J. Wright;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Carolina Pagli;Manahloh Belachew

  • Iceland Geodynamics: Crustal Deformation and Divergent Plate Tectonics

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson

  • Fault slip distribution of two June 2000 M W 6.5 earthquakes in South Iceland estimated from joint inversion of InSAR and GPS measurements

    Rikke Pedersen;Sigurjón Jónsson;Thóra Árnadóttir;Freysteinn Sigmundsson

  • Post-glacial rebound and asthenosphere viscosity in Iceland

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson

  • Volcano geodesy and magma dynamics in Iceland

    Erik Sturkell;Páll Einarsson;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Halldór Geirsson

  • Geodetic GPS measurements in south Iceland: Strain accumulation and partitioning in a propagating ridge system

    P. C. LaFemina;Timothy H. Dixon;R. Malservisi;R. Malservisi;T. Arnadottir

  • Three-dimensional surface motion maps estimated from combined interferometric synthetic aperture radar and GPS data

    Sverrir Gudmundsson;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Jens Michael Carstensen

  • Rift‐transform kinematics in south Iceland: Deformation from Global Positioning System measurements, 1986 to 1992

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Páll Einarsson;Roger Bilham;Erik Sturkell

  • Lava field evolution and emplacement dynamics of the 2014–2015 basaltic fissure eruption at Holuhraun, Iceland

    G.B.M. Pedersen;A. Höskuldsson;T. Dürig;T. Thordarson

  • The 1996 eruption at Gjálp, Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland: efficiency of heat transfer, ice deformation and subglacial water pressure

    Magnús T. Gudmundsson;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Helgi Björnsson;Thórdís Högnadóttir

  • Will present day glacier retreat increase volcanic activity? Stress induced by recent glacier retreat and its effect on magmatism at the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland

    Carolina Pagli;Carolina Pagli;Freysteinn Sigmundsson

  • Comment on " Volume of magma accumulation or withdrawal estimated from surface uplift or subsidence, with application to the 1960 collapse of Kīlauea volcano" by P. T. Delaney and D. F. McTigue

    Daniel J. Johnson;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Paul T. Delaney

  • The 2008 May 29 earthquake doublet in SW Iceland

    J. Decriem;T. Árnadóttir;A. Hooper;H. Geirsson

  • Crustal deformation near Hengill volcano, Iceland 1993–1998: Coupling between magmatic activity and faulting inferred from elastic modeling of satellite radar interferograms

    Kurt L. Feigl;Jérôme Gasperi;Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Alexis Rigo

  • Deformation and seismicity decline before the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption

    Unknown

  • Current plate movements across the Mid-atlantic ridge determined from 5 years of continuous GPS measurements in Iceland

    Halldór Geirsson;Thóra Árnadóttir;Christof Völksen;Weiping Jiang;Weiping Jiang

  • The 1994–1995 seismicity and deformation at the Hengill triple junction, Iceland: Triggering of earthquakes by minor magma injection in a zone of horizontal shear stress

    Freysteinn Sigmundsson;Páll Einarsson;Sigurdur Th. Rögnvaldsson;G. R. Foulger

Frequent Co-Authors

Páll Einarsson
Páll Einarsson University of Iceland
Andrew Hooper
Andrew Hooper University of Leeds
Erik Sturkell
Erik Sturkell University of Gothenburg
Thóra Árnadóttir
Thóra Árnadóttir University of Iceland
Magnús T. Gudmundsson
Magnús T. Gudmundsson University of Iceland
Kurt L. Feigl
Kurt L. Feigl University of Wisconsin–Madison
Virginie Pinel
Virginie Pinel Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Richard A. Bennett
Richard A. Bennett University of Arizona
Helgi Björnsson
Helgi Björnsson University of Iceland

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