Volcanic Eruptions

Question 1

Name a MEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 1

Mt St Helens eruption of 1980

Question 2

When did this MEDC volcanic eruption occur?

Answer 2

May 18th 1980 (date of actual explosion)

Question 3

Give 4 causes of this MEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 3

• A few large earthquakes due to movement of magma (47 on March 25th alone)
• Wasn’t expected to erupt as it hadn’t erupted erupted for years
• Dormant/inactive volcano
• Huge 100m high bulge grew on the side of mountain

Question 4

Give 8 impacts of this MEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 4

• Landslide
• 9 hour eruption
• 57 deaths
• Toutle river closed due to ash as well as 650miles covered
• Ash bellowed up to 12 miles high and reached depths of 2ft on the ground
• All the surrounding landscape was destroyed with 7000 forest animals, 12 million salmon were killed
• Mountain became 365m lower
• $175milliion ash damage

Question 5

Give 6 immediate responses to this MEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 5

• Warnings
• Added additional monitors around the mountain at first sings of activity
• Mobilising helicopters for search and rescue
• Rescue survivors and emergency treatments
• Clearing ash to allow traffic to flow - done within 3 days of the eruption
• 2 million extra masks sent by US president Carter

Question 6

Give 6 long-term responses to this MEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 6

• Rebuilding bridges, roads and buildings (North Road opened in 1990)
• Drainage area had to be monitored for flooding from all the debris
• Fallen timber removal and replanting of forest
• Built 5 visitor centres in national monument
• 45,400 acres of land where trees were planted
• sediment retention dam

Question 7

Name a LEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 7

Mt Nyiragongo 2002

Question 8

When did this LEDC volcanic eruption occur?

Answer 8

17th January 2002 - largest eruption of Southern side of the mountain

Question 9

Give 3 causes of this LEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 9

• Central Africa is at a constructive plate boundary
• Two parts of the African plate pull apart
• Several earthquakes (5.0) damaged buildings

Question 10

Give 8 impacts of this lEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 10

• 147 people died from gas, fumes and trapped in lava while thousands were left injured
• 40% of Goma destroyed, 1200m of airport runway and hospitals
• power and water supplies cut off
• 12500 homes destroyed
• 120,000 people left homeless
• 350,000 people evacuated
• Abandoned buildings were looted
• Lake Kivu was polluted by lava and contaminated water supplies which increased the lake temperature, killing aquatic life

Question 11

Give 8 responses to this LEDC volcanic eruption

Answer 11

• Red alert before eruption –> full evacuation
• UN sent aid to assist the homeless, including 260 tonnes of food e.g. biscuits, maize, beans and cooking oils in week 1
• Oxfam set up camps to shelter people and provide clean water + sanitation
• Aid cost $15million
• UK disasters emergency committee appealed for donations
• World Health Organisation gave emergency vaccinations
• World government donated $35million to help rebuild Goma
• UN = one year recovery programme with $4.9million budget spent on shelter through resettlement

Question 12

Name a supervolcano

Answer 12

Yellowstone, North America

Question 13

Where is this supervolcano?

Answer 13

North America, covering parts of 3 states but mainly in Wyoming

Question 14

How big is this supervolcano?

Answer 14

Magma chamber beneath yellowstone is 80km long, 40km wide and 8km deep

Question 15

Give 8 potential effects of an eruption of this supervolcano

Answer 15

• Likely destroy 10,000km2 land
• Kill 87,000 people (1/3 of people affected would die and 90% of people within 1000km would die)
• Ash would travel to Europe and the UK after 5 days
• 15cm of ash would cover buildings within 1000km
• Ash would kill and sicken humans and wildlife
• Contaminate water supplies
• 3/4 of US would be affected
• Global average temperatures would drop by 10 degrees C (lasting 6-10 years)