Post on 09-May-2015
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]