Iceland Eruptions- AC Case Study

Question 1

What was the population of Heimaey during the eruption?

Answer 1

4000 people.

Question 2

How did many people escape during the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 2

Many people escaped by boat and evacuated to the mainland.

Question 3

What were the hazards from the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 3

Hazards from the eruption were very localized.

Question 4

What social impact did the Heimaey eruption have on houses?

Answer 4

Houses were buried by several meters of ash.

Question 5

What was the economic significance of the harbour in Heimaey?

Answer 5

It was one of the most profitable harbours for fishing, and locals felt they had to save it.

Question 6

What is the current status of the harbour in Heimaey?

Answer 6

Today the harbour is still used thanks to the diversion of the lava flow.

Question 7

What environmental impact did the Heimaey eruption have on coastal waters?

Answer 7

Warming of coastal waters due to contact with lava.

Question 8

What temperature did the lava reach during the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 8

1000 degrees C.

Question 9

What was proposed to mitigate the lava flow during the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 9

It was proposed to throw sea water onto the lava to divert it away from the harbour.

Question 10

What was the outcome of the lava diversion attempt in Heimaey?

Answer 10

A barrier of solidified lava stopped the lava flow from damaging the entrance to the harbour.

Question 11

What was done to mitigate against loss of life during the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 11

Evacuation by fishing boats to the mainland.

Question 12

What was the impact of ash during the Heimaey eruption?

Answer 12

Efforts to mitigate against ash included clearing roofs, but ash continued to fall and houses became buried.

Question 13

What is the current status of Eyjafjallajökull?

Answer 13

The volcano is still active and could erupt.

Question 14

How often does intense volcanic activity occur in Iceland?

Answer 14

Every 140 years.

Question 15

What year do scientists believe the next eruption could occur?

Answer 15

2030.

Question 16

What is Katla and why is it a concern?

Answer 16

Katla is Iceland’s biggest volcano, due for an eruption, and poses a risk of mass devastation from flooding.

Question 17

How frequently does Katla erupt?

Answer 17

Once or twice every century.

Question 18

How do Icelanders view living in a volcanic area?

Answer 18

Icelanders accept that they live in a volcanic area and respect the volcanoes as part of their culture and heritage.

Question 19

What geological feature is Iceland situated on?

Answer 19

Iceland sits astride the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Iceland is thought to be located on a hotspot in the upper mantle so there is more magma production and volcanic activity.

Question 20

What is the impact of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption on Europe?

Answer 20

Europe lost $2.6 billion of GDP and suffered an 11.7% drop in air passenger numbers.

Question 21

What was the impact of the ash cloud on farmers during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption?

Answer 21

Many farmers were evacuated and faced respiratory threats due to the ash.

Question 22

What was the economic impact on the airline industry due to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption?

Answer 22

Tephra- disruptive to the atmosphere- constitutes 95% of icelands eruptive material. The airline industry lost $1.7 billion due to the eruption.

Question 23

What was the environmental impact of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in terms of ash?

Answer 23

1/4 billion m³ of ash was emitted during the eruption.

• Steam explosions from the reaction between lava and meltwater creates ash- explosive.
• Fine grained ash- emitted to the atmosphere and blown over to Europe.
• Rising magma melted the overlying ice cap and water flowed into the creater- added to explosivity.
• The polar jet stream was blowing NW to SE driving the ash over europe.
• Produced numerous Jokulhlaups (a glacier dammed lake flood outburst) located on the north and south side of the volcano. The largest flowed from the north side and damaged a main ring road.

Question 24

What was the visibility issue caused by the ash from Eyjafjallajökull?

Answer 24

Thick ash reduced visibility to 5cm.

Question 25

What measures were taken to mitigate against the Eyjafjallajökull eruption and the consequent vulnerability?

Answer 25

700 people were evacuated from the area on April 15th.

• Opening of emergency aid centres to the west
• Evacuation centres in the east.
  Road closures- to prevent people from straying into areas at risk of flooding

Question 26

What was the impact of volcanic gases during the Reykjanes Peninsula eruptions?

Answer 26

Gas pollution affected air quality eg. sulphur dioxide.

Question 27

What was the response to the potential health hazards from lava reaching the sea?

Answer 27

Forecasting and hazard assessment took place for this scenario.

Question 28

What construction was started in January 2024 on the Reykjanes Peninsula?

Answer 28

Construction of protective barriers around Grindavik.

Question 29

What is the significance of Keflavik airport?

Answer 29

It accounts for 99% of international travelers to Iceland.

Question 30

How many eruptions have occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021?

Answer 30

There have been 7 eruptions since the spring of 2021.

Question 31

What is the purpose of hazard maps created during the Reykjanes eruptions?

Answer 31

To identify hazardous locations and create safe routes for tourists.

Question 32

What was the role of the Icelandic Coast Guard during the Sundhnúkar Fires II eruptions?

Answer 32

They deployed a helicopter to monitor eruption evolution.

Question 33

What is a Jokulhlaup?

Answer 33

A glacier dammed lake flood outburst.

Question 34

What was the impact of the lava flows on infrastructure during the Reykjanes eruptions?

Answer 34

Lava barriers were constructed to prevent damage to infrastructure.

Fourth eruption, 16 March 2024
The fourth eruption began on 16th March between Hagafell and Stóra-Skógfell with a fissure around 3km long forming rapidly Lava flows moved west towards the Blue Lagoon Spa and south towards Grindavik. This eruption was reported to be the most powerful of the Sundhnúkar Fires II eruptions to-date, with rapid lava production and a state of emergency was again declared across the region.

Question 35

What was the impact of Eyjafjallajokkuls eruptin on the kenyan flower industry?

Answer 35

Kenya’s flower industry was hit by the cancellation of flights across europe- was costing growers $1.5-2 million a day. 500 tonnes of flowers were being kept in cool storage at nairobi airport- flowers are esat africas biggest export earner- 20% of all exports.

Question 36

What are the attempts to mitigate against the Rekyjanes fires?

Answer 36

• Gases and wind direction were monitored.
• Lava flows are influenced by topography- monitored, mapped and predicted.
• Hazard maps and communication
• Lava defence barriers