2.1 - Eyjafjallajökull Volcano

Question 1

What type of volcano is it?

Answer 1

Stratovolcano (composite)

Question 2

When did it erupt?

Answer 2

Between March and May of 2010

Question 3

Why did it erupt?

Answer 3

• Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a constructive plate margin between the North American and Eurasian plate
  
  • as the two plates move apart due to ridge push, magma fills the magma chamber below Eyjafjallajökull
  • several magma chambers combined to produce immense pressure and cause the eruption
• The volcano is located below a glacier

Question 4

Primary effects (5)

Answer 4

• ash blocked sun for days on end
• homes and rads were immediately destroyed and services disrupted
• crops were destroyed by ash
• around 500 local people were evacuated
• suffocating gas covered villages and surroundings

Question 5

Main hazards (3)

Answer 5

• high velocity wind caused clouds of fine-grained ash to spread and remain suspended in the atmosphere for long
• violent eruptions could have triggered nearby glaciers to collapse and flood surrounding villages
• (April) explosive eruptions of steam and ash caused fragility to surrounding human and natural environment

Question 6

Secondary effects (name 5)

Answer 6

• thousands of flights all across Europe were cancelled due to the ashy clouded atmosphere
• sporting events were postponed because of flight cancellations
• no fly zone caused airlines to lose approx. $130 million per day; price shares also declined
• fresh food and quality good imports paused causing industries to lack raw material
• villages and families couldn’t supply themselves with foods and clean water
• local water supply was contaminated with fluoride, causing thirst to humans and death to plants and crops
• floodings were caused by melting glaciers washing away villages and the land
• Ash and water covered roads stopped transportation temporarily and halting locals from evacuating elsewhere

Question 7

Responses to volcano (short term and long term)

Answer 7

Short term:
- the area surrounding it was evacuated
- European Red Cross Societies mobilised volunteers, staff and other resources to help people
- provided food for farming populations and counselling and psychological support
Long term:
- EU has developed an integrated structure for air traffic management

Question 8

What opportunities did the eruption bring? (3)

Answer 8

• The grounding of flights prevented some 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (according to Environmental Transportation Association)
  
  • other transport companies benefited (Eurostar with a rise of 50,000 passengers)
• Deposited ash dissolved iron into North Atlantic Ocean triggering plankton bloom increasing biological productivity
• Following negative publicity, government launched campaign to promote tourism whcih significantly increased tourism numbers

Question 9

Why do locals choose to live near the volcano? (4)

Answer 9

• Provide mineral resources such as metallic ore deposits when rocks go through hydrothermal alteration which can be mined and sold
• Lava and ash break down to form fertile volcanic soil which encourage suktivation
• Jobs from tourism in volcanic areas
• Geothermal power from volcano to produce electricity (70% of Iceland’s electricity is generated from this)