Hazards Case Studies

Question 1

Context of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 1

• Iceland, 2010
• 14th to the 23rd of May lasting 39 days.

Question 2

Talk about the Tectonic setting of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 2

• Sits on the mid atlantic ridge
• North American and Eurasian plates pull apart
• Frequent volcanic eruptions

Question 3

Eyjafjallajökull eruption- build up to the event

Answer 3

The eruption began in March 2010 with small seismic activity and earthquakes, signaling the movement of magma beneath the surface.
Fissures opened in the ice-covered volcano, allowing magma to escape.
Scientists had been monitoring the area, and the increase in seismicity suggested an impending eruption, though it was initially not clear when it would occur.
Glacial meltwater floods (jökulhlaups) were early signs of volcanic activity.

Question 4

eruptive history of Eyjafjallajökull

Answer 4

erupted several times throughout history, with notable eruptions occurring in 920 AD and 1612 AD.
However, the 2010 eruption was the most disruptive in modern times.

Question 5

Eyjafjallajökull eruption magma types?

Answer 5

The eruption primarily involved andesitic magma, which is relatively viscous and leads to explosive eruptions.
This resulted in the large ash plume that caused significant disruptions in air travel.
The interaction of magma with glacial ice created huge amounts of steam, enhancing the explosive nature of the eruption.

Question 6

What are the main primary effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 6

Ash Cloud- 9km into atmosphere, airports closed in 28 countries, affected 10 million passangers, costed airlines 1.7 billion

Lava Flow

Flooding

Air Quality

Question 7

Talk about the main secondary effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 7

Economic Impact- aviation industry, agricultural sector

Environmental- Sulphur dioxide emissions, acidification, damage

health

Question 8

Talk about the risk of Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 8

Iceland’s position on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge means that it is inherently vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, which are relatively frequent in the region. The 2010 eruption was particularly hazardous due to the massive ash cloud and the disruptions it caused to infrastructure and air travel.

Question 9

Talk about the vulnerability of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 9

Iceland is well-prepared for volcanic activity due to its history with eruptions. However, the global disruption caused by the ash cloud highlighted how interconnected the world is, with volcanic hazards in remote regions affecting global air traffic and the economy.

Question 10

What were the immediate responses of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 10

Evacuations: Approximately 500 people were evacuated from the immediate danger zone.
Air Travel Disruptions: Emergency measures were put in place to manage the closure of airports and airspace across Europe.

Question 11

What were the long-term responses of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Answer 11

Resilience: Icelandic authorities and the population displayed resilience by quickly rebuilding infrastructure and restoring agricultural activities.
Adaptation: Iceland continues to monitor volcanic activity and improve its ability to predict eruptions using early warning systems and seismic monitoring.
Risk Management: Iceland has invested in volcano monitoring, emergency evacuation plans, and public awareness campaigns to manage the risks posed by future eruptions.

Question 12

Talk about the future (katla)

Answer 12

Katla: Eyjafjallajökull’s neighboring volcano, Katla, is considered a much larger and more dangerous volcano. It lies beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and has erupted numerous times, most recently in 1918.
Future Risks: Scientists believe that the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull may be a precursor to future activity at Katla, which is likely to be more explosive and produce larger ash clouds. Iceland is preparing for this potential eruption through improved monitoring and contingency plans