Key Volcano Case Studies Flashcards
What is an example of a volcanic eruption in a developed country
Mt St Helens USA 1980
How was the Mt St Helens volcanic eruption triggered
By an earthquake that created a landslide on the volcano slopes -> this followed 2 months of minor tremors and gas build up
Social impacts of Mt St Helens eruption (4)
1) 50 dead
2) 200 evacuated
3) Homes and bridges destroyed
4) Electricity and phone lines cut off
Economic impacts of Mt St Helens eruption (4)
1) $3.5 billion damage
2) $100 million damage to farm machinery and crops from ash
3) Agriculture and timber industries lost money due to loss of crops and timber
4) Commercial flights cancelled and others diverted
Environmental impacts of Mt St Helens eruption (5)
1) Lahars created due to glacial melt
2) All animals and plants in a 25km radius killed
3) Landslide contaminated freshwater of nearby Spirit Lake
4) Thousands of trees uprooted in the force of the eruption
5) Reduction in height of mountain due to largest landslide ever recorded
Example of a volcanic eruption in an emerging country
Mt Merapi, Indonesia - 2010
Social impacts of Mt Merapi eruption (5)
1) 350 dead
2) 350,000 people displaced
3) Exclusion zone 20km around volcano
4) Schools had to close
5) Long term health issues due to respiratory problems caused by ash
Economic impacts of Mt Merapi eruption (4)
1) $800 million damage
2) Ash fell on rice fields destroying the harvest and price of basic food sharply increased
3) Ash cloud grounded planes in Australia
4) Ash will eventually make soils more fertile -> so yields will increase
Environmental impacts of Mt Merapi eruption (3)
1) Lahars
2) Sections of tropical rainforest on the slopes of the volcano were destroyed by pyroclastic flows
3) Waterways were contaminated with acidic lava and ash
Example of a volcanic eruption in a developing country
Mt Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo - 2002
Social impacts of Mt Nyiragongo eruption (5)
1) 200 dead
2) 12,500 homes destroyed
3) 400,000 evacuated
4) Cholera outbreaks in evacuation zones
5) Drinking water shortages as water supplies contaminated
Economic impacts of Mt Nyiragongo eruption (5)
1) $1.5 billion damages
2) Large parts of the city Goma collapsed and destroyed by Lava flows
3) Widespread looting in Goma
4) Goma airport runways covered in lava
5) Lava flows destroyed crops and killed livestock
Environmental impacts of Mt Nyiragongo eruption (1)
1) Acid rain led to forestry and farmland damage
