volcano

Question 1

name of case study and location

Answer 1

Monserrat, Soufriere Hills -
a small island in the Caribbean sea

Question 2

when did it happen, how often and size

Answer 2

between june and september in 1997 a series of large eruptions occurred emitting 4-5 million tones of material from the eruptions over 20 minute periods lasting. Produced large ash clouds.

Question 3

plate margin

Answer 3

destructive north American and Caribbean plate

Question 4

economic impact

Answer 4

total loss of peoples homes and investment’s established to be 1 billion 20 villages, 213 homes destroyed by pyroclastic flow
tourism stayed away = business lost

Question 5

social impact

Answer 5

19 people died, 7 injured, 100s of people left homeless, fires destroyed many buildings from lava
island population declined 8000 people left after eruption

Question 6

environmental impact

Answer 6

large areas covered in volcanic ash
capital city Plymouth buried under 12 m of mud and ash
vegetation and farmland destroyed, volcanic ash improved fertility of soil

Question 7

responses

Answer 7

people evacuated from south to areas in north safer
uk gave 12 mill emergency aid
local people did search and rescue community
shelters built, temporary infrastructure a risk map created with exclusion zones in places south of island of limits as volcano still internally active.
moserat volcano observatory has been set up to try to predict future eruptions

Question 8

Eyjafjallajökull Eruption, Iceland – April 2010 - Tectonic Setting

Answer 8

Location: Southern Iceland
Tectonic context: Divergent plate boundary (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) – the North American and Eurasian plates moving apart.
Volcano type: Stratovolcano, subglacial (covered by ice cap)
The eruption involved basaltic and andesitic lava, with explosive phreatomagmatic activity due to interaction with glacial meltwater.

Question 9

Timeline of Events

Answer 9

March 20, 2010: Small fissure eruption began.

April 14, 2010: Major explosive eruption beneath the ice cap.

April 15–20, 2010: Volcanic ash plume disrupts global air travel.

Question 10

Primary Hazards

Answer 10

Ash plume reached up to 11 km into the atmosphere.

700 million cubic metres of ash ejected.

Ash contaminated water and caused minor respiratory issues.

Glacial melt led to jökulhlaups (glacial floods).

Question 11

Secondary Hazards

Answer 11

Global aviation disruption:

Airspace over much of Europe shut down for 6 days.

Over 100,000 flights cancelled.

Cost to global airline industry: estimated $1.7 billion.

Tourism hit in Iceland, but long-term boosted due to media exposure.

Losses to industries relying on air freight (e.g. Kenyan flower exports).

Local farms covered in ash; livestock had to be kept indoors.

Question 12

Impacts

Answer 12

Social:
800 local residents evacuated.
Local water supplies contaminated by ash.
Respiratory issues from fine ash (less severe than expected).

Economic:
Major economic losses to airlines and travel industries.
Air freight disruption led to global supply chain issues (e.g. fresh produce).
Long-term increase in Icelandic tourism post-eruption.

Environmental:
Ash improved soil fertility.
Local flooding and landscape reshaping due to jökulhlaups.
Minimal long-term environmental damage.

Question 13

Responses

Answer 13

short-term:
Iceland’s civil defence system activated.
Immediate evacuation of residents.
Flights grounded across Europe to prevent engine damage.

Long-term:
Improved volcanic ash monitoring and aviation protocols (VAAC – Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres).
Raised awareness of interconnectedness of global systems.
EU reviewed and revised airspace closure policies.