Egjafjallajohull, Iceland Flashcards
1
Q
social impacts
A
- 500 framers and families evacuated
- European and trans Atlantic flights disrupted by the ash cloud
- 700 people evacuated from the flood zone
- North west wind blowing away from inhabited area
- Roads surrounding volcano shut
2
Q
Environmental impacts
A
- 30000 tonnes of C02 per day
- Water table contaminated by ash
- Change in soil and water composition
- Cattle died
- Concentrations of fluoride from ash mixed with water supplies having deadly effects on sheep
- 30000 tonnes per day of CO2 into atmosphere
3
Q
Economic impacts
A
- 50,000 Kenyan farmers unemployed due to logistical issues without planes
- £130m lost a day due to flights disruptions
- 107,000 flights cancelled over 8 days
4
Q
Response
A
- Domestic responses
- Most countries were MEDC’s
- Tests made on air quality to tell when planes could fly
- Warning system to nearby residents gave 930 minutes warning)
- Emergency services were well prepared
5
Q
Setting
A
- Iceland
- Divergent boundary
- North American plate moves west
- Eurasian plate moves East
- Along the mid-Atlantic ridge
- Moving apart 1-5 cm annually
- Most southerly volcano on island (small)
- Elongated ice-covered strato with a 2.5km caldera
6
Q
Nature of hazard
A
- Volcanic ash and ash plume reached 11,000m
- Fine grained ash
- Anticyclonic weather in Britain meant wind did not move it
- Glacier melted= flooding
- Lava emitted from 500m long fissure
7
Q
Vulnerability
A
- Plenty of warning signs
- 3000 pre recorded earthquakes
- Vulnerable If this eruption set of nearby volcano of Katla= really eruptive
8
Q
Capacity to cope
A
- Icelandic Meteorological Office monitors constantly
- 24/7 watch set up
- Weather radar useful for showing the distribution of ash
- IMO worked closely with National Emergency Services
- The event was tracked and prepared for
- European union has a high combined GDP meaning they had the financial capacity to cope.
- EU has extensive transport mechanisms.
- Legally and on insurance the EU is prepared.
