Vulcanicity: E15, 2010 Iceland (HIC)

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

In March 2010, rising magma broke through the crust under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier and lava eruptions began. On 14th April, the lava eruptions became more intense and more explosive; water mixed with the silica to form fine glassy ash, which rose high into the atmosphere and blew south over the European continent. The glacier continued to melt and a huge amount of meltwater flowed down to the sea, destroying sections of the main highway on the south coast of Iceland.

Question 2

Icelandic impacts- Local

Answer 2

• Just over 700 local people were evacuated out of the danger zone
  -Communication and transport infrastructure was disrupted which limited access for local people travelling to the capital Reykjavik and cost the country £12 million to reconstruct
  -Tourism was affected, as planes could not fly.
  -The growing season in Iceland is short, so a whole years worth of crops were damaged, resulting in food shortages, particularly of fodder crops to feed animals through the long winter.
  -Homes and farmland directly to the south of the volcano were destroyed.

Question 3

International impacts- what was the impact on air travel

Answer 3

-48% of all air traffic was grounded for eight days across Europe, as the ash cloud was judged to be unsafe for the aircraft.

Question 4

International impacts- Nissan and apple

Answer 4

• Many industries were affected by a lack of imported parts and raw materials, Nissan halted production of 2000 vehicles in the UK. Apples supplies in Japan were affected.

Question 5

International impacts- farmers produce

Answer 5

-Fresh produce could not be imported to Northern Europe, this affected supermarkets and producers worldwide. Cut flower, fruit and vegetable producers from Kenya and other African nations were particularly affected as their economy relies on international trade.
-Kenya is reported to have destroyed 3000 tonnes of flowers that could not be transported to the UK.

Question 6

International impacts- financial losses for airlines

Answer 6

Total losses for airline companies and airport operators was around £1.1 billion due to grounded flights.

Question 7

Local government immediate responses

Answer 7

• Hour by hour updated information was sent from the Icelandic meteorological centre to affected locals, airlines, persons of influence, governments etc. to continue information flow and coordinate responses in the most efficient way.

Question 8

Local government medium term responses

Answer 8

Government rebuilt destroyed roads and infrastructure in under 2 months to reconnect many remote settlements which prior had to rely on boat or helicopter imported supplies.

Question 9

NGO responses

Answer 9

Red Cross offered supplies and resources to those displaced and evacuated

Question 10

Long term responses

Answer 10

-Destroyed houses and property has since entirely been rebuilt for locals prior rehoused in temporary accommodation.
-Icelandic tourism industry has in the long term grown since 2010
-Environment has since grown back more fertile than ever due to ash deposits
-GDP and social recovery in Iceland beyond stage 5 of the park model