The International Symposium on Earth and Planetary Ice–Volcano Interactions was held from 19 to 23 June 2006 in Reykjavík at the Askja building of the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland. The conference brought together 107 participants from 17 countries and the 23 papers published in this volume of the Annals of Glaciology are a permanent legacy of that meeting. Perhaps fittingly, the Askja building takes its name from a famous Icelandic stratovolcano and from its architectural resemblance to a volcanic caldera or ‘askja’.
Iceland is an exceptionally appropriate site for a conference on the subject of ice–volcano interactions. Indeed, in August 2000 a precursor to the present symposium was held in Reykjavík which helped to motivate a seminal book on Volcano–Ice Interaction on Earth and Mars, edited by Smellie and Chapman and published by The Geological Society. Many who contributed to that effort present new results in this Annals volume.
Over the years, symposia organized by the International Glaciological Society and the associated volumes of the Annals of Glaciology have played an important role in bringing together scientific communities that share common interests but have differing scientific traditions. When these encounters are successful they can spawn unforeseeable research collaborations and launch science in new directions. The theme ice–volcano interactions is clearly one that spans disciplines and the IGS symposium occurred at an historic moment for this emerging science. In November 2004 the idea of forming a Working Group on Volcano–Ice Interaction was conceived and a formal proposal was then presented to the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI). officially, the Working Group came into existence in January 2006 and the IGS symposium in June 2006 was the first scientific event at which the Working Group played a role.
All papers published in this volume have been subjected to rigorous peer review and edited in accordance with the high standards of IGS journals. The editorial committee comprised Garry Clarke and John Smellie (Chief Editors), Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, Bryndís Bransdóttir, Jennie Gilbert, James Head, Helmet Rott, Thor Thordarson, Jean-Claude Thouret and Joseph Walder. The local organizing committee consisted of Þröstur Þorsteinsson (Chairman), Bryndís Brandsdóttir, Freysteinn Sigmundsson, Helgi Björnsson, Hreinn Haraldsson, Magnús T Guðmundsson, Matthew Roberts, Óli Grétar Blöndal Sveinsson, Sveinn Jakobsson, Tómas Jóhannesson and Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson.
Financial support from the University of Iceland, the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, the Icelandic Meteorological office, the Icelandic Road Authority, Landsbanki, National Bank of Iceland, Landsvirkjun and the Iceland Ministry of Education is gratefully acknowledged.
