Give an example of an MEDC volcanic eruption. When did this happen?
Eyjafjallajókull, Iceland. In April 2010.
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What are the characteristics of Eyjafjallajókull?
Eyjafjallajökull is a small volcano (about 40 square kilometres) within the chain of volcanoes in the southeast Rift Zone. It is the most southerly volcano on mainland Iceland before Surtsey in the sea to the south west.
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What lies on top of the caldera of Eyjafjallajókull?
A glacier.
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Why did volcanic activity occur here?
Due to Iceland being on a constructive plate margin, and being a part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
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How did volcanic activity start to take place?
It started as an effusive lava eruption from fissures. Later, in mid-April, eruptions became more explosive because of an increase on dissolved gases in the magma moving to the surface, and steam formed when snow melted from the glacier.
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What were the problems associated with the 10 kilometre high ash plume?
It reached high enough to travel in the jet stream, towards Europe. It was also fine-grained so could be picked up and dispersed easily, particularly in the anticyclonic UK weather.
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What impacts did the melting of the glacier cause?
Floods with discharges of 3,000 cube metres, causing 700 having to be evacuated because of this. Jókulhlaups were also caused.
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What warning signs were there of an eruption taking place?
In March, there were 3,000 earthquakes recorded, with them being mostly 2 on the Richter scale, and therefore unable to be felt by people.
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How large is the vent of the volcano?
2 miles in diameter.
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How many people died?
0.
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What were people forced to wear? Why?
Goggles and masks, due to the ash.
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How large was the ash cloud that drifted towards Europe?
8 kilometres high.
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How were roads and bridges affected?
200 kilometres of roads were destroyed, along with 7 bridges. This was mostly due to the jökulhlaups and made evacuation harder.
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How many families had to be evacuated from the surrounding area?
800.
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Which other countries were affected apart from Iceland?
European countries and Kenya.
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How was Kenya affected?
20% of the economy is based on the export of vegetables to Europe, which couldn't take place due to plane closures. 50,000 farmers were temporarily unemployed.
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What did the ash contaminate? What were the farmers warned to do?
Water supplies, and farmers were warned not to let their livestock drink the water as high concentrations of flouride and ash can be deadly.
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What sporting events had to be cancelled?
The Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix, and the Boston Marathon.
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How did the highways agenecy respond to the floodwater?
They deliberately breached the embankments along the Southern Highway to allow the water to pass to the sea. Bulldozers were then brought in to restabalise these.
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What supplies were disrupted to the local people?
Electricity and water supplies.
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How was agriculture affected in Iceland?
Production slumped as the crops were covered in ash, however as agriculture was not a large export it was not diastrous.
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How was industry affected?
Production slumped due to a lack of raw materials, and due to aluminium being one of the largest exporters, this affected the country greatly. It caused losses of £80 million.
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How was timber affected?
It slumped due to the destruction of the forest.
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How was tourism affected?
Tourism decreased initally, but it is now increasing again as people want to visit the volcano.
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What was the major impact of this volcanic eruption?
European and trans-Atlantic flights had to be cancelled, due to the fine (invisible) particles clogging up engines.
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What were the affects of cancelled plane flights?
Airlines lost £130 million each day (also in compensation), and many people were left stranded in countries, especially those working and on school trips.
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How many flights were cancelled?
107,000, affecting 10 million people.
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How was water supplied?
Through tankers.
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What aid agencies helped in the distribution of food, water, and medical supplies?
Oxfam and Christian Aid.
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How prepared was Europe?
Poorly, and this eruption prompted a review of procedures, particularly in terms of plane flights. 'FutureVolc' has been set up to integrate European volcano monitoring.
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What has Iceland built in case of a further volcanic eruption?
Flood defences.
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What management strategies did Iceland have in place beforehand?
(see sheet)
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What are the characteristics of Eyjafjallajókull?
Back
Eyjafjallajökull is a small volcano (about 40 square kilometres) within the chain of volcanoes in the southeast Rift Zone. It is the most southerly volcano on mainland Iceland before Surtsey in the sea to the south west.
Card 3
Front
What lies on top of the caldera of Eyjafjallajókull?
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