LEDC Volcanic Eruption

Question 1

What was the date of the event? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 1

17th January 2002

Question 2

What is the location of the event? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 2

Democratic Republic of the Congo
West of the Rwanda boarder
African Rift Valley

Question 3

What is the average life expectancy? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 3

59 years

Question 4

This is one of the most active volcanoes in the world but least studied, why? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 4

constant warfare

Question 5

What is the plate boundary of this volcano? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 5

• diverging plate boundary

- located on a triple junction (Arabian and 2 African plates are pulling apart)

Question 6

What type of volcano is this? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 6

• Strata volcano

- 3,470 metre elevation

Question 7

How large is the caldera at the summit? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 7

2 km wide

Question 8

What type of lava is present? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 8

• Basaltic lava
• Low viscosity
• High temperatures

Question 9

What type of minor extrusive activity is associated with this volcano? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 9

Fumeroles

Question 10

What type of eruption was it? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 10

Fissure on the South Flank

Question 11

Where did the lava reach during the eruption? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 11

Lake Kivu - lake turnover

Question 12

What short term impacts occurred? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 12

• 45 dead (within 24 hours)
• 147 death toll
• 300,000 evacuated
• 14 villages destroyed
• Cholera breakout

Question 13

What long term impacts occurred? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 13

• 20,000 left homeless
• schools delayed rebuilding (lost generation)
• 350,000 still aid dependent one month on
• 500,000km2 of nation parks destroyed (home to endangered gorillas)

Question 14

What short term management and response schemes occurred? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 14

• Redcross warning system identified refugee sites
• Full evacuation of Goma
• UN brought humanitarian aid
• High energy rations
• UN set up camps costing $15 million
• Pop up medical tents

Question 15

What long term management and response schemes occurred? (Nyiragongo tectonics)

Answer 15

• International Community funded an observatory so people could be warned earlier
• Children at schools are now educated on the effects of volcanoes
• Efforts made to reunite families