This paper presents a new complete field mapping of glacial landscapes, landforms and sediments in the Faroe Islands, supplemented by observations from bathymetric maps of the Faroe Shelf. In addition, previous investigations of Quaternary and espe-cially the Weichselian glaciation of the archipelago are reviewed. New cosmogenic nuclide exposure ages indicate that the last extensive glaciation of the Faroe Islands occurred during the Late Weichselian, most likely during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; c. 26.5–19.0 cal. ka BP), although a Younger Dryas (c. 12.9–11.7 cal. ka BP) age cannot be entirely excluded. Geomorphological mapping provides a background for reconstructing the extent and type of the glaciation of the Faroe Islands. The reconstructed Weichselian glaciation appears to have had the character of an exten-sive valley glaciation, with several marine glacier termini. The present glaciation of southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard, represents a modern analogue of the reconstructed Weichselian glaciation in the Faroe Islands. The lack of raised coastal features in the Faroe Islands, also at protected sites, suggests that postglacial isostatic uplift was smaller than post-LGM eustatic sea level rise. Numerical glacier reconstructions carried out for different extents of the last extensive Faroese glaciation suggest that such limited postglacial isostatic crustal uplift requires that the Faroe Shelf was not extensively glaciated during the Late Weichselian, but it doubtless was so during at least one of the previous Quaternary glaciations.

Long-term livestock grazing has shaped landscapes, biodiversity, societies, cultures, and economies in the North Atlantic over time. However, overgrazing has become a major environmental sustainability challenge for this region, covering the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Scotland. The objective of this study was to elicit narratives and spatial patterns of local people’s management preferences for sheep grazing in the Faroe Islands through a socio-cultural lens. We collected data via a Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) survey with an open question about hopes and concerns for sheep management in the Faroe Islands and a mapping exercise for expressing spatial preferences for sheep management. Four distinct narratives emerged from a qualitative analysis of responses to the open question (n = 184): (1) Sustainable sheep management, (2) Nature without sheep, (3) Sheep as part of Faroese culture, and (4) Sheep as nuisance. Visual inspection of narrative-specific maps with locations where either no or fewer sheep were preferred indicated that sheep management is not simply a ’sheep vs. no sheep’ issue but embedded in a more nuanced consideration of the place of sheep in the landscape and society. For example, for some residents sheep-farming is not a commercial enterprise but a social activity and local source of food. Our combined methodological approach using qualitative and spatial data can help researchers in other fields identify the interplay between place-specific areas of grazing management concern and socio-cultural values, enabling more targeted land-use management policies or plans.

Volcanic landforms resulting from Cenozoic volcanism represent the most peculiar features of global geodiversity and provide eminent narratives for geoeducation. Among them, however, relict volcanic forms and site-specific landforms in remote areas have received less attention. In this paper, we provide the first description of unique volcanogenic features (hereinafter referred to as pseudo-hieroglyphs) developed on a summit rock wall at the Sandfelli ridge near the village of Gjógv in the N Eysturoy Island (Faroe Islands). The geomorphic evolution of the ridge and rock wall during the Quaternary is described and detailed petrographic analyses of the volcanogenic features are provided. Based on observed petrographical features, we interpret the pseudo-hieroglyphs to probably represent unique examples of chaotic horizontal columnar jointing. Following the geomorphological and petrographic examination of the study site, we analyse current Faroese legislation aiming at nature conservation and use this case to discuss broader implications of geoheritage conservation and geotourism in distant regions.

Sheep grazing is an important part of agriculture in the North Atlantic region, defined here as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Scotland. This process has played a key role in shaping the landscape and biodiversity of the region, sometimes with major environmental consequences, and has also been instrumental in the development of its rural economy and culture. In this review, we present results of the first interdisciplinary study taking a long-term perspective on sheep management, resource economy and the ecological impacts of sheep grazing, showing that sustainability boundaries are most likely to be exceeded in fragile environments where financial support is linked to the number of sheep produced. The sustainability of sheep grazing can be enhanced by a management regime that promotes grazing densities appropriate to the site and supported by area-based subsidy systems, thus minimizing environmental degradation, encouraging biodiversity and preserving the integrity of ecosystem processes.

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are susceptible to flow-type landslides in coarse-grained highly organic colluvium. Following several hazardous debris avalanche events, research work has been initiated to quantify landslide risk. A central task in this work is to predict landslide runout behavior. From numerical simulation of four debris avalanches, this study provides a first screening of which rheology and appertaining input parameters best predict runout behavior of debris avalanches in the Faroe Islands. Three rheologies (frictional, Voellmy, and Bingham) are selected and used for individual back analysis of the events in the numerical models BING and DAN3D. A best fit rheology is selected from comparing predicted and observed landslide runout behavior. General back analysis to identify the optimal input parameters for the chosen rheology is performed by cross validation, where each debris avalanche is modeled with input parameters from the three other events. Optimal input parameters are found from the model run producing the most accurate runout length and velocity. The Bingham is selected as the best fit rheology, a result differing from similar studies of coarse-grained landslides. A reason for why particularly the frictional rheology proves unsuitable is its tendency to produce too long runout lengths of the low-weight runout material, a result showing important limitations for using the frictional rheology in DAN3D. Optimal Bingham input parameters are τ y  = 980 Pa and μ b  = 117 Pa/s. However, future studies performed in 2D models are needed for precise parameterization before results can be used for landslide risk assessment.

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are highly susceptible to debris-avalanches and debris-flows originating from debris-slide activity in shallow colluvial soils. To provide data for hazard and risk assessment of debris-avalanches and debris-flows, this study aims at quantifying the magnitude and frequency of their debris-slide origins as well as identifying which preparatory factors are responsible for the spatial debris-slide distribution in the landscape. For that purpose a debris-slide inventory was generated from aerial photo interpretation (API), fieldwork and anecdotal sources, covering a 159km2 study area in the northern Faroe Islands. A magnitude–cumulative frequency (MCF) curve was derived to predict magnitude dependant debris-slide frequencies, while preparatory factors responsible for spatial debris-slide distribution were quantified through GIS-supported discriminant function analysis (DFA). Nine factors containing geological (lithology, dip), geomorphological (slope angle, altitude, aspect, plan and profile curvature) and land use (infield/outfield, sheep density) information were included in the multivariate analysis. Debris-slides larger than 100m2 with magnitude expressed as topographic scar area can be predicted from the power–law function: Y=936.26X−1.277, r2=0.98 while a physical explanation is preferred for the roll-over pattern of smaller slope failures. The DFA is able to correctly classify app. 70% of the modeled terrain units into their pre-determined stable/unstable groups. Preparatory factors responsible for the spatial debris-slide distribution are aspect, slope angle, sheep density, plan curvature and altitude, while influence of the remaining factors is negligible.

Landslides and debris flow phenomena in particular constitute a threat to human activities in the Faroe Islands. As a contribution to ongoing landslide risk management research, this paper proposes a classification scheme for debris flow phenomena in the Faroe Islands. The scheme, produced through a multidisciplinary study involving geomorphological fieldwork and qualitative collection of indigenous landslide knowledge, presents physical characteristics to classify debris flow phenomena into groups named with Faroese terms. The following landslide definitions are proposed. Brekku-skriðulop (English translation: hillslope debris flow): a very rapid to extremely rapid non-channelised downslope movement of remoulded colluvium and eventually fragmented rock, initiated as a debris slide in colluvial soil (type 1) or from rock fall (type 2). Áar-skriðulop (English translation: channelised debris flow): a very rapid to extremely rapid channelised downslope movement of remoulded colluvium and/or talus/fluvial material and eventually fragmented rock, initiated as a debris slide in colluvial soil (type 1), from rock fall (type 2) or from mobilisation of talus/fluvial material (type 3). The scheme, which is compatible with international landslide classification systems, significantly increases the knowledge of debris flow phenomena and promotes a consistent terminology of these within the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean are highly susceptible to landslides. Following recent landslide incidents, Jarthfeingi (Faroese Earth and Energy Directorate) has pointed out, that the risk of human lives or of property being lost or affected by landslides may be increasing. This paper aims at presenting and testing a simple qualitative approach for mapping regional landslide susceptibility in the Faroe Islands, using few key parameters. The susceptibility model holds information about both landslide initiation areas and runout zones. Landslide initiation areas are determined from slope angle thresholds (25 degrees-40 degrees) and soil cover data, while runout zones are delineated using the angle of reach approach taking into account the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path, which has not been considered in earlier studies. Data input is obtained from a landslide database containing 67 debris flows throughout the Faroe Islands. Angle of reach values differ significantly with the presence/absence of geological benches in the runout path. Two values of angle of reach, 21.5 degrees and 27.6 degrees, are used for calculating runout zones. The landslide susceptibility model is tested in a study area at the town of Klaksvik in the northern part of the Faroe Islands. A map validation comparing predicted susceptibility zones with a validation-dataset of 87 actual landslides in the study area reveal that 69% and 92%, respectively, of actual landslide initiation areas and runout zones are correctly predicted. Moreover 87% of the actual landslides are included in the overall predicted landslide susceptibility areas.

ABSTRACT The exposed nature of the northern Faroe Islands high relief landscape enabled widespread Holocene slope process activity and deposition of related landforms, which seem largely controlled by extreme meteorological conditions. Three different slope landforms – the large colluvial Glyvurs fan, the lower Marknastiggjur mountainside debris-flow deposits in the town of Klaksvik, and the mountain top aeolian sediment cover on Eidiskollur – were investigated by a combination of geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, chronological and modern process studies. Sporadic Holocene snow-avalanche and debris-flow activity were documented, with sedimentation starting significantly before 8000 cal yr BP in the Glyvurs fan, which still sporadically experiences activity. The largest amounts of Holocene slope sedimentation seem to occur in colluvial fans, such as the Glyvurs fan, which are located below large dyke canyons, called gjogvs. The lower Marknastiggjur mountainside consists of mainly debris-flow deposits, which started before 7800 cal yr BP. A relatively small amount of precipitation, but with high precipitation intensity after a dry summer, triggered modern small-scale debris-flows in the northern islands, also at the Marknastiggjur mountainside, early in Autumn 2000. Extensive continuous mountaintop aeolian sedimentation from cliff weathering started around 6900 cal yr BP on the Eidiskollur peninsula. No direct influence of settlement on slope process activity was found at the different investigated slope landforms in the northern Faroe Islands.

Danish Journal of Geography 96: 21–31, 1996. Geomorphological investigations on the Faroe Islands have shown the existence of small, but distinct moraine systems, indicating the former occurrence of glaciers. At least two glacial events may be distinguished: an older characterised by valley glaciers 2–4 km long, and a younger characterised by small cirque glaciers. Dating (14C) indicates that the youngest moraines are older than 5,200 yr. BP. During the two glacial events the largest glaciers were located in cirques facing NE, while the smallest were located in cirques facing SW. During the two glacial events equilibrium line altitude was at 200–350 m a.s.l. and 300–450 m a.s.l., respectively. Glaciers of intermediate size were found in cirques facing NW and SE. This pattern is interpreted as being caused by strong snow drift from SW and W. The temperature and precipitation values during the glacial events are discussed with reference to measured meteorological conditions at modern glaciers. Keywords: Faroe IslandsNorth AtlanticLate Weichselian glaciationNorth Atlantic Driftcirquemoraine systemspalaeoclimate