Eyjajalljokull - Volcano Flashcards
Where was it
Iceland
What is the volcano referred to as
‘E15’
When was it
2010
What was the cause
It was on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and as the North American and Eurasian Plate were pulling apart a fissure opened up
What was the type of volcano
Subglacial
What was the type of eruption
Initially a tissue opened up about 150m in length. 10-12 erupting lava craters ejecting lava - ICELANDIC ERUPTIO.
What was the lava type
Basalt and relatively viscous causing lava stream to be slow
How far did the lava flow from the fissure
4000m to the NE
What was the temperature of the lava
10,000*C
How high is the ice cap on top of the caldera of the volcano
1666 m high
What was the volcanic explosive index
4 which is large but not nearly the most powerful VEI
What was the eruption like
In the explosive phase, ejected fine, glass rich ash to over 8km into the atmosphere. This was then directed to the east by the westerly winds
What made the volcanic activity worse
The volcanoes was located under the Polar Jet Stream which was heading NW to SE. Direction of the jet stream was unusually stable maintains a continuous NW to SE heading
As eruption, took place new the glacial ice, what was the result
The resulting melt water flowed into the volcano creating two phenomena:
Vaporising water increased the explosive power.
The lava cooled very rapidly circulating a cloud of highly abrasive, glass rich ash which could damage jet engines, disrupt roads and damage bridges.
How long were flights stopped
6 days
What did the 6 day shut down cost the airline
£1.26billion
What did the thick ash cloud affect
It fell on Pasture at Raufarfell. This has become wet and compact, making it very difficult to continue farming, harvesting or grazing livestock.
Became disruptive to air travel.
What were the reports on livestock
There was danger to them in the local area and even as far as Scotland due to ingestion by livestock of fluoride from volcanic ash on pasture land
How was the Kenyan flower industry affected by the eruption
Because of the ash, it costed flower growers between $1.5 million and $2 million a day
How many people evacuated
10,000 people because of floods
Once the ash was picked up by the jet stream, what happened
It was blown towards Europe so many European counties were forced to shut down their air space; the largest shut down since World War II. This affected several million people and had knock-on travel effects across the globe
What did the shut down of European airlines cost
£130 million per day for the six days it was closed
By the end of 2010, what was E15 considered to be
Dormant by volcanologists
What did the Kalta eruption produce
5 times as much ash than this eruption in 1918
What are there signs of in Kalta
That magma is rising beneath the surface and an eruption isn’t far away
Why is there little risk to people’s lives in this part of Iceland
Becsuse not many people live there, although some had to evacuated after this eruption
What does the ash cloud mean
People are vulnerable at some distances away from the volcano, not in terms of their lives, but in their ability to travel, as flights would be severely restricted due to the ash cloud.Business people and tourists were stranded, industrial production was affected as raw materials could not be flown in.
What was the first response
500 farmers were evacuated overnight and some roads were closed in fear of flooding.
What did a Royal Navy warship collect
Soliders returning from Afghanistan and stranded holiday makers from the Spanish port of Saritander.
Why did tourist flock to the site
Because the eruption produced a ‘volcanic Disneyland’ and tourists flocked to see the amazing lava flows
The primary effects
Day turned to night due to the ash blocking out the sun.
rescuers wore face masks to prevent them choking on the clouds of ash.
Homes and roads damaged and services disrupted, crops damaged by ash, roads washed away.
100,000 flights cancelled over 8 days.
Total loses of £80million.
What were the secondary effects
Sporting events were cancelled or affected due to cancelled flights.
Fresh food imports stopped and industries were affected by a lack of imported raw materials.
Local water supplies were contaminated with fluoride.
Flooding was caused as the glacier melted and torrents of water flowed out from beneath the ice.
What were the positive impacts
Tourism.
Lava and ash are rich in nutrients making the soils in volcanic areas very fertile and good for agricultural use. The rocks can be used for building. Geothermal energy is a very valuable resource in Iceland and is used for hot water and to heat swimming pools.
What were the long term responses
Further research into the effects on ash on aircraft. Reconstruction of roads, local flood defences needed reconstructing.
