Ejya Volcano

Question 1

How did the volcano erupt?

Answer 1

Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a constructive plate margin separating the North American and Eurasian plates. The two plates move apart due to ridge push along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

As the plates move apart, magma fills the magma chamber below Eyjafjallajökull—several magma chambers combined to produce a significant volume of magma below the volcano.

Question 2

Primary effects

Answer 2

Primary effects:

As a result of the eruption, day turned to night, with the ash blocking the sun. Rescuers wore face masks to prevent them from choking on ash clouds.

Homes and roads were damaged, services were disrupted, crops were destroyed by ash, and roads were washed away. The ash cloud brought European airspace to a standstill during the latter half of April 2010 and cost billions of euros in delays.

Flooding was caused as the glacier melted.

Question 3

Secondary effects

Answer 3

Secondary affects

Fresh food imports stopped, and industries were affected by a lack of imported raw materials.

Local water supplies were contaminated with fluoride.

The impact was felt as far afield as Kenya, where farmers have laid off 5000 workers after flowers and vegetables were left rotting at airports. Kenya’s flower council says the country lost $1.3m a day in lost shipments to Europe.

Question 4

What benefits did the volcano provide?

Answer 4

the eruption brought several benefits. According to the Environmental Transport Association, the grounding of European flights prevented some 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (according to the Environmental Transport Association).

Ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano deposited dissolved iron into the North Atlantic, triggering a plankton bloom, driving an increase in biological productivity.

Following the negative publicity of the eruption, the Icelandic government launched a campaign to promote tourism.

Question 5

Responses

Answer 5

European Red Cross Societies mobilised volunteers, staff and other resources to help people affected directly or indirectly by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano.

The European Red Cross provided food for the farming population living in the vicinity of the glacier, as well as counselling and psychosocial support, in particular for traumatised children.

Some 700 people were evacuated from the disaster zone three times in the past month. In one instance, people had to flee their homes in the middle of the night to escape from flash floods.