Pollen monitoring

Frjógildrur á Akureyri, sjálfvirkt Polleno Mars frjóvöktunarkerfi til vinstri og Burkad-frjógildra til hægri.
Automatic instrument (Polleno Mars) for measuring and identification of pollen (to the left) and a Burkad spore trap (to the right) in Akureyri. – Photo by Ewa Maria Przedpelska-Wasowicz

AUTOMATIC POLLEN COUNT – POLLEN FORECAST

Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH) has conducted national pollen monitoring since 1988, with measurements occurring from April to September annually. This data serves as crucial information for allergy sufferers.

In line with global advancements in pollen monitoring, IINH is embarking on transitioning from manual pollen monitoring methods to real-time automatic measurements.

The new automatic instrument has been operational in Akureyri since 2022 and in Garðabær since 2024. Instead of daily averages becoming available after a week, information is now accessible in real-time, with a resolution of 15 minutes.

What is the mechanism behind automatic pollen measurements?

Operating on the principle of drawing in ambient air along with its particles, including pollen grains, the measurement system concentrates them and directs them into a measurement chamber. Here, holographic techniques are employed to measure these particles while they are in flight. Subsequently, an artificial intelligence algorithm analyzes the data to provide insights into the various types of pollen and their concentrations in the air.

Data Presentation

Under the tab "SJÁLFVIRKUR FRJÓKORNAMÆLIR" people can access three plots. The first plot displays real-time data for the past 24 hours, showcasing the main types of allergenic pollen in Iceland. The second plot provides data for the past month, while the last plot presents data since the start of automatic measurements.

Additionally, IINH offers pollen forecasts and daily measurement data, comparing them to average pollen season levels.

The European Pollen Information website provides information in English and German on pollen levels in most European countries, including Iceland. Information on pollen levels in Iceland is updated weekly over the summer.

Publications

Przedpełska-Wąsowicz, E. M., K. Piotrowicz and D. Myszkowska 2025. How does geographic location affect birch and grass pollen seasons? A comparative study of Iceland (Akureyri) and Poland (Kraków). Aerobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-025-09851-3

Makra L, L. Coviello, A. Gobbi, [...], E.M. Przedpelska-Wasowicz,  E.R. Guðjohnsen et al. Forecasting daily total pollen concentrations on a global scale. Allergy. 2024; 79: 2173-2185. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.16227

Przedpelska-Wasowicz, E.M., P. Wasowicz, A.Ó. Áskelsdóttir, E.R. Guðjohnsen og M. Hallsdóttir 2021. Characterization of pollen seasons in Iceland based on long-term observations: 1988–2018. Aerobiologia (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-021-09701-y

Margrét Hallsdóttir 2007. Frjótími grasa á Íslandi. Náttúrufræðingurinn 75(2–4): 107–114.

IINH Contact

Ewa Maria Przedpelska-Wasowicz, Biologist, ewa@ni.is

 

Frjógildra í Urriðaholti í Garðabæ
Spore trap in Urriðaholt, Garðabær. – Photo by Ásrún Elmarsdóttir