Geography Case Study Iceland Volcano
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- Created on: 24-02-16 15:30
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- Case Study Iceland Volcano
- Causes.
- The Eyjafjallajokull ice cap sits on top of a volcano which in the February of 2010 erupted.
- The second eruption took place directly under the ice cap making it much more explosive.
- This is because, the weight of the ice cap meant a greater build up of pressure withing the volcanoes main chamber leading to a bigger eruption.
- The second eruption took place directly under the ice cap making it much more explosive.
- The larger volcano Katla usually erupts soon after the primary volcano situated under the ice cap.
- The ash was quickly cooled by the melting ice cap giving it a much more abrasive glass like structure
- The Eyjafjallajokull ice cap sits on top of a volcano which in the February of 2010 erupted.
- Impacts
- Heat from the volcano melted vast amounts of ice under the icecap.
- Melt water emerged as a glacial burst (or jokulhlaup) causing flooding
- This lead to the evacuation of 800 people due to the risk.
- Farming was disrupted because of ash as cattle could eat grass because of the ash and had to be kept indoors.
- Drinking water was poisoned by fluorine-tainted ash.
- Some vegetation damaged where ash lay was thicker than 10cm
- The airport on the south of the island was closed due to heavy ash fall, passengers were bused to the airport on the North of the island.
- However this didn't impact tourism which in fact increased, By the end of march over 10,000 tourists had seen the eruption.
- Mud slides (lahars) raised channel beds which in turn increased the risk of flooding.
- Heat from the volcano melted vast amounts of ice under the icecap.
- Impacts on European Air Space.
- The explosive nature of the eruption carried ash up into the jet stream.
- This carried ash in a a South-Easterly direction towards mainland Europe.
- This lead to over 20 countries closing their airspace at one point or an other.
- It was feared that the ash would rapidly reduce visibility and damage aircraft leading to engine failure.
- Air travel was susspended over Europe between the 15th and 20th of April.
- This left around seven million passengers around the world stranded.
- Cost around £400 million a day.
- The explosive nature of the eruption carried ash up into the jet stream.
- What was learnt.
- The 2010 eruption encouraged research and investment into;
- Engine design
- The level of ash concentration in the atmosphere deemed safe for air travel,
- meteorological forecasting of ash movements
- Insurance companies and airlines have reviewed policies regarding their obligations to consumers.
- Air control has also revised more roots to take to destinations should a disruption like this happen.
- The 2010 eruption encouraged research and investment into;
- Causes.
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