Earth Donovan 2019 Laki, Holuhraun and Eyjafjallajokul

Laki, Holuhraun and Eyjafjallajokull: A historical context and recent events

What major Icelandic eruptions are important case studies?

1783–84 fissure eruptions and the 2010 eruption.

What was a major impact of the 1783–84 Icelandic eruptions?

European famine.

What was a major impact of the 2010 Icelandic eruption?

Major aviation disruption across Europe.

What organisation monitors Icelandic volcanoes?

The Icelandic Meteorological Office.

Which organisation worked with Icelandic scientists on ash modelling?

The London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC).

What daily preparedness exercise was carried out in Iceland?

Hypothetical Katla eruption simulations using daily weather patterns.

What weakness existed in Icelandic preparedness before 2010?

Other volcanic risks beyond ash were not prioritised.

How did the 2010 eruption affect UK governance?

It caused reorganisation of UK government departments.

Why was the UK Department for Transport heavily involved?

It coordinated evacuation of stranded UK tourists across Europe.

What lesson was learned about preparedness?

Preparedness requires continuously rethinking plans.

How did UK–Iceland scientific relations change after 2010?

Collaboration increased significantly.

How did aviation regulation change after 2010?

The UK relaxed strict precautionary aviation rules.

Why is there no universal crisis-management structure?

Different crises require different networked or lead-agency approaches.

Why was sense-making difficult during the ash crisis?

The crisis was multiscalar with many possible outcomes.

What makes multiscalar crises difficult to manage?

Authorities struggle to prioritise resources across sectors and scales.

What are epistemic boundaries in crises?

Boundaries between different forms of knowledge and expertise.

Why is reactive governance ineffective in transboundary crises?

It responds too late to complex cross-border hazards.

What is needed for better transboundary volcanic management?

Strong boundary-spanning protocols.