Eiyjafallajokull Case Study

Question 1

What was the volcanic hazard/event?

Answer 1

1. Eruption began 14th April 2010 and ended 25th May.
2. Plumes of basaltic lava ejected as fire fountains and lava flows.
3. Interaction with ice and magma caused the explosion of glassy-ash into atmosphere 10km.
4. 300m³ of ash/sec ejected equating to 140 million m³.
5. Combination of gases and glass-rich causes a triboelectric effect, creating lighting shocks.

Question 2

what were the social impacts?

Answer 2

1. lung irritation and respiration problems.

2. over 1000 tourists stranded and had to find other means of travel.

Question 3

what were the economic impacts?

Answer 3

1. £130 million was lost per day as a result of global air transport cancellations.
2. 1 million flower stalks unsold from Kenya in first 2 days.
3. 50,000 farmers were temporarily unemployed.
4. London lost £102 million of tourist income during the 16 days of inactivity.

Question 4

Environmental impacts included…

Answer 4

1. Increase in water levels due to melting glacier at Krossã glacial river.
2. Ash with high fluoride and sulphur levels collected on farmlands and dissolved in rivers.
3. Caused renal and hepatic effect to wildlife and animals.

Question 5

Other impacts were?

Answer 5

1. 17,000 flights cancelled per day

2. Microscopic glass and ash clog jet engines and melt them with heat and friction.

Question 6

What were the management strategies?

Answer 6

1. The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) established the International Airways Volcano Ash Meteorological Information (VA SIGMET)
2. VONA was set up into the warning system.
3. The GEO established communities of practice to facilitate interactions between volcanic warning systems.