How do the Gulf Stream and the East Greenland Current affect Iceland’s climate?

Iceland’s maritime subarctic climate is significantly shaped by the confluence of two contrasting ocean currents. The Gulf Stream, a warm current originating near the Equator, helps moderate the country's temperatures, keeping Iceland much warmer than its high-latitude location near the Arctic Circle would otherwise suggest.1

Conversely, the East Greenland Current brings colder influences to the region. This current is known to carry Arctic drift ice toward Iceland’s northern and eastern shores, contributing to the relatively colder weather often experienced in the northern parts of the country. Together, these currents interact with atmospheric conditions—such as the Icelandic low—to define the island's variable weather patterns, including frequent gales and seasonal temperature shifts.12