Eyjafjallajokull Flashcards
1
Q
where is Iceland?
A
lies in the North Atlantic ocean, next to Norway and NW of the UK
2
Q
what tectonic position does it lie on?
A
a constructive/divergent plate boundary. The N American and Eurasian plates are moving apart and create the Mid Atlantic ridge from molten rock from beneath the earths surface
3
Q
what type of volcano is it?
A
a composite strato volcano built up of layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice and ash
4
Q
when did it erupt?
A
20th March 2010
5
Q
what were the environmental impacts of the eruption?
A
- blanket of ash over Europe- ceased flights to be grounded across Europe
- 3 mil tonnes of co2 emitted
- ash and tephra made grazing /arable land infertile (ST)- acidic fallout leaching into soils
- buildings covered in ash
- freshwater dangerous to drink
- jokullhalups from glacial melting
6
Q
what were the socio-economic impacts?
A
- 2 people missing
- 25% increase in respiratory illness next year
- harvest decrease for 2 years
- farmland flooded- topsoil eroded
- airline lost 10mil
- boost in tourism
7
Q
what were the responses to the eruption?
A
- no one dead
- monitoring techniques meant people were warned early
- 700 evacuated due to early warning system
- highway deliberately breached to stop surges causing further damage
- helicopters to rescue in short term
- museum to educate on volcanicity
- funded projects from Europe for further research into volcanoes as it affects globally when happens EU
