MEDC tectonic case study

Iceland volcanic eruption

The Iceland Volcano and MEDC tectonic hazard.

• Eyjafjallajokull (how to say)

• Fissure eruption

• 15th April 2010

• Location of Iceland and state of development

Describe the location of Eyjafjallajokull (3)

Volcano location

Iceland

UK

Describe the distribution of earthquakes in Iceland

• Earthquake activity

Iceland’s Volcanic system

The role of technology - GPS locations

The volcano is sub-glacial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fimmvorduhals_second_fissure_2010_04_02.JPG

Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on tectonic plates.

These divergent plates are moving apart – they are called constructive

plates.

As the plates pull apart magma can rise to the surface + form volcanoes

and hotspots.

The latest eruption occurred under a glacier.

The water cooled the lava quickly – led to massive gas, steam and glass

particle clouds rising to 30000ft

Tony Cassidy

Effects?

Primary effects

• 150m thick ice cap melted.

• Major floods to Iceland

• Destroyed parts of main Route 1 road

• Thick Ash cloud

• Respiratory problems for animals

• Ash damage to homes

• 20 farms destroyed

• No loss of life – because Iceland prepared

Airspace closed across much of Europe since

Thursday lunchtime. At least 17’000 flights a day

were cancelled.

Stock market shares in Air Travel and Tourism

agencies have dropped 4%.

The disruption is costing airlines more than $200 million a day.

Grounded air cargo flights have stopped delivery of

items such as microchips, food, flowers, medicines

and mail.

Increased use of Eurostar,

train servicesships and

ferries

Less demand for air fuel = 1.87million barrels of oil not

needed = loss of money for oil industry = could

lead to increase in petrol costs in UK

Loss of some products (like fruit)

to supermarket shelves

Increased spending by people who are stranded in the UK – for hotels, food,

etc.

Health impacts – can cause respiratory

problems as ash settles

In Iceland – flash floods, damaged fields and homes,

but increased tourism

Could possibly trigger major eruption at Katla volcano

Secondary effects – mainly economic

Secondary effects

• Volcano Refugees– 6 days of no flying and 95,000 flights cancelled– Coincided with Easter Holiday– Tens of thousands of travellers stranded– Cost to airline industry estimated to be $2 billion– London residents enjoyed peace and quiet with

no planes– Fruit and veg imports into UK stopped – impact

on growers

21st April 2010

In Iceland

Bridges and roads, flash floods

In Iceland

• 20 farming families evacuated

• Roads bulldozed to allow flash flood water to reach the sea

• Fine ash silting up rivers – harbours closed and bridges in danger of being damaged – these rivers are still blocked 1 year on, government has to pay to dredge them or allow rivers to flood and create new path

UK

• London lost £102 million of tourist income

• Knock-on implications for hotel owners, insurance companies, employers, etc. .

• Some workers went unpaid – others had to claim on insurance.

Management of the hazard

• Iceland is an MEDC and very experienced with volcanic eruptions

• Wide range of high tech equipment and sophisticated computer models to monitor seismic activity and predict eruptions

• Warning system, e.g. text messages to all residents with 30min warning

• Well prepared emergency services

Comparing LEDC and MEDC effects

1. Compare the effects of the Haiti earthquake with those of the Iceland eruption. (SEE) [4marks]

2. Why were there very few deaths in Iceland? [2marks]