Anatomical changes in dwarf shrub roots provide insight into aeolian erosion rates in northeastern Iceland

•Many parts of Iceland are affected by the severe aeolian erosion.•Dendrochronological analyses of dwarf shrubs provided reliable data on rates and timing of aeolian erosion.•Erosion rates (post-1990′s) ranged from 1.0 cm yr−1 in the 1970 s to 4.4–5.4 cm yr−1.•Reconstructed erosion rates in NE Iceland compared well to observations of dusty conditions (from the 1970′s to the present)•Increased erosion rates of small erosional escarpments coincide with dust storm activity.