VOLCANO: Mt Nyiragongo, DRC Flashcards
1
Q
When did Nyiragongo erupt?
A
January 2002
2
Q
What is the plate boundary?
A
Constructive; rift valley
3
Q
Volcano & eruption type?
A
Stratovolcano
4
Q
Eruption frequency?
A
30 times in the last century
5
Q
Eruption predictability?
A
Seismic activity
6
Q
Magnitude?
A
VEI 1
7
Q
Primary hazards?
A
- sulphurous lava flows
- poisonous gases
- earthquakes (max. 5 on Richter scale)
- ash plumes
8
Q
Secondary hazards?
A
- contaminated water due to lava
– Lake Kivu
– temperature increase released toxic gases
9
Q
Primary impacts?
A
- 1/3 of Goma destroyed
- commercial centre, medical/water/power facilities
- lava covered a runway at Goma airport
- 147 dead
- structural damage
10
Q
Secondary impacts?
A
- dysentery due to contaminated water
- looting
– people killed looting a petrol store when it exploded
11
Q
Social impacts?
A
- medical attention needed due to fume inhalation
- 200,000 people impacted
12
Q
Economic impacts?
A
- damaged agricultural land and built environment
- $15 million cost of aid
- one runway couldn’t operate
- 80% commercial infrastructure destroyed
13
Q
Environmental impacts?
A
- 13km fissure opened up
- contaminate water
- greenhouse gas release
13
Q
Risk?
A
- low viscosity lava
- fast flowing (90 km/h)
14
Q
Political impacts?
A
Rwanda had an extra 350,000 people to deal with
