Eyjafjallajökull (E15) Eruption - Case Study 4

Question 1

What happened in the first eruption phase?

Answer 1

March 2010 a fissure opened up 150m long in a NE-SW direction spewing lava 150m in the air
Lava was basalt and viscous causing the lava flow to be slow and the eruption to be effusive(flowed 4000m NE of the fissure)
Small amount of ash ejection rising to no more then 4km

Question 2

What happened in the second eruption phase?

Answer 2

14th April 2010 eruption entered the explosive phase as water entered the volcano causing the magma to cool so there was an increase in pressure (phreatomagmatic explosion)
Blasted fine, glass rich ash 8km in the atmosphere
Estimated to have been a VEI 4

Question 3

What were the local impacts of the volcanic eruption?

Answer 3

Thick layer of ash fell on farm pastures at Raufarfell making it difficult to continue farming
River levels rose as part of the ice caps melted
Some gravel roads were blocked by falling ash

Question 4

What were the global impacts of the volcanic eruption?

Answer 4

The ash that was blasted from the volcano was blasted into the jet stream and travelled long distances causing flight bans in the northern hemisphere costing airline companies $2.5bn

Question 5

What were the responses to the eruption?

Answer 5

800 people evacuated overnight
Paper masks issued
Reservoir created near the town of Vik to hold back meltwater
6 day flight ban in airspace of NW countries