E15 - Ash

Question 1

Hazards

Answer 1

• ash ejected 11km into atmosphere, entered jet stream

Question 2

econ/soc/env impacts

Answer 2

• 48% flights cancelled, $1.7bn lost revenue
• over 300 airports closed
• 50-60 farms destroyed
• flooding threatened highway
• no deaths, but people suffered from respiratory problems
• the fluoride in ash contaminated soils affecting livestock and agriculture
• 2.8 mil tonnes of CO2 wasn’t emitted due to disruption

Question 3

prediction

Answer 3

• tourism impacted evac plans
• multiple systems in place to detect signs
• mid 2009, ground deformation
• swarms of EQs in prior years, indicating magma movement

Question 4

During

Answer 4

• aid centres opened
• roads closed to prevent people entering areas of risk
• 500 farmers evacuated

Question 5

after

Answer 5

• 1000 had to evacuate due to risk of melting glaciers
• some farmers decided to move
• 60 volunteers from red cross gave aid