Eyjafjallajokull- Iceland 2010 CS

Question 1

What were the causes of the volcanic eruption

Answer 1

It’s on a constructive plate boundary, where the N American plate is pulling apart from the Eurasian plate. This means that magma fills the gap (fissiour) and rises up to erupt.

Question 2

What is the lava like?

Answer 2

Flows quickly = low viscosity

Question 3

What are some primary effects of the volcanic eruption?

Answer 3

Visibility was down to a few metres
Many of the roads were shut
Water supplies were contaminated by ash
30,000 tonnes of Co2 went into the air
Dangerous wind speeds
Flooding

Question 4

What were some secondary effects of the eruption

Answer 4

107,000 flights were cancelled
People were stranded abroad
Businesses lost a lot of money (130,000 pounds a day)
Schools had to close
Kenyan economy declined as they couldn’t transport goods (20% of its economy is based on exporting veg)
Respiratory problems due to large amounts of Co2
Icelandic tourism increased massively

Question 5

What are some short term responses to Iceland 2010

Answer 5

• 500 farmers and their families had to be evacuated from the area around the volcano
• They let the river embarkment break through so that the bridge wouldn’t collapse
• European Red Cross societies mobilised volunteers, staff and other resources to help effected
  people by the eruption
• Red Cross society provided food for the farming population
• 4 shelters were opened
• bedding provided in airports people were stranded in

Question 6

What were the long term responses?

Answer 6

• European Union has developed an integrated structure for air traffic management
• financial assistance by the government
• air transport have done safety tests to see ow much ash a jet engine is capable of holding before it fails
• Red Cross provided counselling and psychological support for people affected by the eruption