The Restless Earth: Volcanic Eruption - Case Study Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the case study for a volcanic eruption?
Montserrat.
Where is MONSERRAT?
Small island, in the Caribbean sea.
DATE of the eruption?
June 25th 1997.
When did small eruptions start occurring?
July 1995.
SIZE of the eruption?
Large.
How much ROCK and GAS was released?
4-5 million m3.
DEATH TOLL?
19 killed.
What was the CAUSE of the eruption?
Montserrat is above a destructive plate boundary.
Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufriere hill.
Forming underground pool of magma.
Rock above the pool collapsed.
Opening a vent causing the eruption.
What 2 plates met?
Atlantic plate.
Caribbean plate.
Which PLATE was forced under another plate?
Atlantic plate forced under Caribbean plate.
Name 5 primary effects of the volcanic eruption?
Areas covered in volcanic material.
Homes destroyed by pyroclastic flows.
School, hospital and airport destroyed.
Vegetation/farmland destroyed.
What area was buried in mud and ash?
Capital city- Plymouth.
Buried under 12m.
How many homes and villages were destroyed by pyroclastic flows?
20 villages.
Two thirds of homes.
What are PYROCLASTIC FLOWS?
Fast-moving clouds of super-heated gas and ash.
Name 5 secondary effects?
Fires destroyed buildings. Tourists stayed away. Population decline. Improved soil fertility. Tourism increasing.
What buildings where destroyed by fires?
Local government offices.
Police headquarters.
Town’s central petrol station.
What happened due to tourists staying away?
Businesses were destroyed.
Disrupted the economy.
How much has the population declined?
8000 of the 12,000 inhabitants have left since the eruption in 1995.
What caused the improvement of soil fertility?
Volcanic ash.
Why is tourism on the island increasing?
People want to come and see the volcano.
Name 5 immediate responses?
People evacuated. Shelters built. Temporary infrastructure. UK provided £17M Local emergency services.
People were evacuated from…
South to safe areas in the north.
What type of temporary infrastructure was built?
Roads.
Electricity supplies.
Why did the UK provide £17M for Montserrat?
Montserrat is an overseas territory of the UK.
