E15 volcanic case study:

Question 1

Characteristics/Context:

Answer 1

• Completely covered by a glacier,
• Iceland lies on the mid-atlantic ridge, a constructive plate margin
• North American and eurasion plate move apart due to ridge push

Question 2

Primary impacts:

Answer 2

0 deaths reported.
800 evacuated
Subglacial eruptions frequently led to flooding
Iceland’s main perimeter road was partly washed away.
Ash blocked the sun

Question 3

Secondary impacts:

Answer 3

Local water supplies were contaminated with fluoride.

Industries were impacted from a lack of raw materials being imported

Fresh food imports stopped.

Question 4

International effects:

Answer 4

Ash cloud over the south east blown towards Europe led to:

• 100,000 flights cancelled
• 10 million people were left stranded
• Airlines lost $130 million a day.
• Travel and tourism industries took a massive hit.

Question 5

Opportunities of E15:

Answer 5

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. Inspired by Iceland was established with the strategic intent of depicting the country’s beauty, the friendliness of its people and the fact that it was very much open for business. As a result, tourist numbers increased significantly following the campaign, as shown in the graph below.

Overall, 79,252 additional visits were achieved. Given an average spend per head of £1,750, the total revenue generated was £138.7 million. All of this led to one key conclusion: the increase in Icelandic tourism was far greater than the previous decline caused by the natural disaster and greatly exceeded forecasts.

Question 6

Responses:

Answer 6

Short term: Evacuated.

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.