The oceanographic system around Iceland is dominated by the Irminger Current transporting heat and nutrients from the south, and East-Greenland Current, which brings cold and fresh polar water from the north.
Ólíkir hafstraumar umlykja landið, annars vegar flytur Irmingerstraumurinn hlýjan og saltan sjó að landinu úr suðri og hins vegar berst kaldur og seltulítill sjór með Austur-Grænlandsstraumnum úr norðri.