Case Study :: Eyjafjallajokull

Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland

Iceland is an MEDC (more economically developed country). Its GDP per capita is $42,339 compared with the UK's at $38,920. The island itself lies on a constructive plate boundary where two plates are pulling apart. In this case, the two pates involved are the Atlantic and the Eurasian tectonic plate. At this boundary magma rises up between the plates and cools as it contacts the ocean. Over time this magma layers and builds up in the form of a volcanic island. Iceland itself is thought to be situated over a hotspot (where a stationary plume of magma has risen to the Earth's surface) as like Hawaii. 

Iceland is home to multiple volcanoes and so is used to dealing with eruptions. Fissure eruptions are common and are frequently observed by NASA.

Eruption 2010:

Nature of event::

Eyjafjallajokull (E15) is an ice-covered stratovolcano South-East of Iceland. The last eruption from E15 was in 1821 and so the volume of ash produced was expected. E15 reached a 4 on the VEI because of the amount of ash it produced. It was categorised as a fissure eruption.

Impacts::

Primary

1. As heat generated melted overlying ice, flooding occured forced a 700 person evacuation.

2. Water contaminated with fluoride

3. 500 farmers evacuated

4. roads around the volcano shut

5. People forced to wear goggles and masks because of the ash

6. 10km plume of ash released

Secondary::

1. European flights cancelled because heat of engine turns ash into a glass-like material

2. Trans-Atlantic flights cancelled because fear of engine becoming blocked

3. IATA notes that approx £130 million lost economically for airline companies

4. Hire-car companies whacked prices up (some people paid thousands to get to the Channel Tunnel)

5. Kenyan economy at risk as perishable goods must be transported through Spain to get to the UK instead of been flown as usual

6. Travelers stranded abroad 

7. Channel Tunnel congested

Responses and Management ::

Primary

1. Predictions informed scientists to tell farmers not to let animals drink from outdoor water sources as high levels of fluoride would have contaminated water and would have had deadly effects on cattle.

2.  Icelandic Meteorological Office observes all Iceland's volcanoes and records any warning signs of activity.

3. 24/7 watch put in place at the IMO 

4. Ash was tracked by many countries so they could decide what to do about air traffic in advance

Secondary:

1. Compensation to stranded travelers
2. New regulations for volcanic ash in terms of flying aircraft.
3. FutureVolc project set up in 2012 to integrate European volcano monitoring. Iceland is therefore a laboratory 'supersite' because of its array of volcanic sites.

pictures sourced from ::

www.nathazmap.com

www.theguardian.com

www.bbc.co.uk