Iceland case study of Eyjafjallajökull Flashcards
Date of the eruption
March 2010, then the explosive phase started on 14th April 2010
Magnitude
Volcanic explosivity Index 4
Where did it happen?
160km from Reykjavik in the south of Iceland
What type of plate boundary?
Constructive, also on a hotspot
What plates?
Eurasian and North American
What were the primary effects?
ice melting and glacial outburst
agricultural land ruined
What did the ice melting cause?
It caused the lava to cool and shoot large bits of ash high into the air
flash flooding.
What were the secondary effects?
impact on local economy
loss of jobs
ash storms
rerouting of air traffic - 100,000 flights cancelled or rerouted (cost airlines 2 billion dollars)
fruit and veg rotted as they couldn’t be transported
What were the immediate responses?
Evacuation of 500 farmers near the volcanoes
the closing of 313 airports because of ash in the air
What were the long term responses?
changing of safety guidelines
