Eyjafjallajökull eruption Flashcards
Which plate margins is Eyjafjallajökull located on?
The volcano is located above a hot spot on the Mid Atlantic Ridge - a conservative plate margin formed as the Eurasian and North American Plate move apart.
What type of volcano is Eyjafjallajökull?
Eyjafjallajökull is a composite volcano, uncharacteristic of a conservative plate margin. It is believed that it was formed by the Eurasian plate subducting under itself but this is not yet fully understood.
What were the events leading up to Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption?
Signs of an imminent eruption were noted before March 2010 when seismographs detected shallow earthquakes, indicating rising magma. The volcano began erupting on 20th March 2010 and didn’t stop until October 2010. The eruptions before 14th April were in areas not covered by ice caps which meant that they had little effect internationally.
Describe the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (including date).
On 14th April 2010, Eyjafjallajökull erupted 250m under a glacier. Interaction between the magma and melt water increased the explosively, aiding the plumes of ash to reach nearly 8km in height.
At its maximum the VEI was 4 which was powerful enough for the ash to enter the polar jet stream and because it was mostly very fine it spread across to Northern Europe.
Why did the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull affect the aviation industry in Northern Europe?
Eyjafjallajökull erupted under a glacier. Melted ice cooled the ejected material resulting in the creation of glassy ash with a 58% silica content.
This ash could scour aircraft windscreens, reducing visibility and had the potential to clog up engines which would cause them to melt and fail. This halted aviation as it was impossible to fly safely.
Environmental effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:
The reduction in air traffic lead to 2.8 million tonnes less carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide contributes towards global warming.
*Deposited ash created fertile land for farming, increasing crop yields.
Economic effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:
*Europe lost $2.6 billion of GDP due to the eruption.
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Lack of air travel disrupted manufacturing as the import and export of goods via aviation ceased. This meant that companies couldn’t get the parts they needed or ship their products out on time.
*Flowers and fruit, which have a short shelf life once picked, could not be transported, resulting in crops in Africa and the Caribbean being left to rot. It was estimated that Kenya lost £2.4 million a day during the event.
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A major local industry, the export of fresh fish, was badly affected leading to loss of income.
Social effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:
*Disruptions to industries caused people to lose their jobs or earn less money.
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On 18th April, during one of the worst periods, 313 airports across Europe were forced to close. At Heathrow on one day 1000 flights were cancelled. Airport closures caused inconvenience for passengers, resulting in them missing important events. 400,000 British people were stranded worldwide.
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Deposited ash in the local area became wet and compact, smothering young crops and pasture.
Immediate responses of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:
*On 14 April a VA SIGMET, (significant meteorological information), was issued for Eyjafjallajökull which led to airports across Europe closing.
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Around 700 people from the surrounding rural area were evacuated.
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Livestock were taken inside to escape the ash.
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Local populations were evacuated for safety and to limit respiratory problems.
Secondary responses of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:
*Katla, a nearby more dangerous volcano, is being closely monitored as in the past it has succeeded an eruption by Eyjafjallajökull.
The reconstruction of roads and bridges.
*Reconstruction of local flood defences.
Where is Eyjafjallajökull volcano within Iceland?
The volcano is located in South Iceland, 75 miles east of the capital city, Reykjavik
