1.6 Iceland ( Eyjafjallajokull Eruption)

Question 1

Facts about the eruption

Answer 1

Happened in 2010 14th April
Situated 200m under glacial ice
Number of casualties = 0

Question 2

Economic impacts:

Answer 2

European economy lost $5billion
African economies lost as much as $65 million
Loss for the airlines ($1.1 billion)

Question 3

Social impacts

Answer 3

Cancelled sports, music and arts events
Localised health effects around south Iceland due to abrasive nature of ash
Increased regional traffic for land based travel
Cancelled/postponed political events

Question 4

Global significance

Answer 4

Impacts felt as far as Japan, with MotoGP suffering from air freight reduction
Clothes, jewellery and automobile industries affected elsewhere in Asia, and Kenyan flower industry lost $2million in produce
Not everyone suffered - there were some winners (NZ fish farms)

Question 5

Regional significance

Answer 5

Ash clouds reached as far as northern Italy meaning any flights to and from European airports were affected.
European economy lost $5million in disruption
Increase in land based travel means train prices rise and road traffic increases
However there was reduced air and noise pollution

Question 6

More useful facts

Answer 6

• Population who lived near the volcano had recorded high levels of irritation and respiratory synotoms
• Total loss for the airline industry was around $1.7billion
• Roughly 107,000 flights worldwide were cancelled during an 8-day period. 10 million passengers left stranded
• Nissan plant in Japan had to stop the production of 3 car models because they ran out of a critical sensor produced in Ireland.