Geography IGCSE - E15 Volcanic Eruption

Iceland location

Iceland is a isolated island located on the North Atlantic ocean, laying on the Mid - Atlantic Ridge

Iceland population

around 390,000

E15 2010 Eruption

Began on 20 March 2010 → more explosive phase starting on 14 April 2010 → eruption lasted 39 days → officially declared over in late May 2010 → VEI: 4

Causes (BP1)

Located on Mid-Atlantic Ridge → constructive plate boundary between North American Plate + Eurasian Plate → these plates are moving apart at around 2.5 cm per year → allows magma to rise through crust → E15 is part of Iceland's active volcanic zone → where these plate movement builds pressure underground

Causes (BP2)

As plates diverged → magma rose into a chamber beneath E15 → builds pressure over time → volcano had not erupted since 1821 → allows gases → e.g. water vapour and CO₂ → to accumulate in magma → pressure increases → sets stage for an explosive eruption once magma reached surface

Causes (BP3)

E15 is ice-capped volcano → with glacier covering approximately 100 km² → up to several hundred metres thick → when eruption began on 14 April 2010 → magma melted around 200 million m³ of glacial ice → created huge amounts of meltwater → lead to glacial floods in nearby rivers like the Markarfljót → rapid contact between magma + water triggered phreatomagmatic explosions → produces fine ash cloud that rose up to 11 km into atmosphere → disrupted air travel across Europe

Primary + Secondary Impacts (BP1 → social)

Around 500 people from areas → e.g. Eyjafjöll → evacuated due to ash fall + flooding from glacial melt → respiratory problems → reported in nearby settlements → Skógar, caused by inhalation of fine ash particles → evacuation well-coordinated → no deaths were reported → due to effective monitoring by Icelandic Meteorological Office

Primary + Secondary Impacts (BP1 → economic + environmental)

Ash plume caused over 100,000 flight cancellations across 20 European countries → results in losses of around US$1.7 billion to airlines → local farmers experienced livestock disruption + soil contamination → especially in south Iceland → ash contained minerals → improved long term soil fertility → floodwater deposited nutrient rich sediments → benefiting agriculture in following years

Primary + Secondary Impacts (BP1 → economic + social)

More than 10 million people were stranded worldwide → affecting holidays, business + health appointments → kenya’s flower industry lost over US$1.3 million per day → exports to Europe were disrupted → Iceland’s tourism industry grew by 10% in 2011 → visitors came to see volcano → landscapes near Eyjafjöll

Planning (BP1 → before)

Has strong volcano monitoring system → run by IMO → tracked earthquakes + magma movement under Eyjafjöll → scientists used GPS + seismometers → detect rising magma weeks before the eruption → allowing early warnings → few people received formal evacuation training → many homes near Skógar were not built to withstand ash fall + flooding

Planning (BP2 → during)

Authorities evacuated around 500 residents quickly from high risk areas → e.g. Eyjafjöll → due to risk of ash fall + flooding → bridges along Markarfljót River → deliberately removed to allow glacial floodwater to pass through → airspace across 20 European countries closed as safety measure → coordinated by Eurocontrol → grounding over 100,000 flights

Planning (BP3 → after)

Scientists improved ash cloud forecasting + communication between meteorologists + aviation authorities → local planning was strengthened → better emergency response training → improved awareness for future eruptions → Iceland promoted volcano tourism → especially around Eyjafjöll + Markarfljót → turning eruption into opportunity to boost economy