Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Eruption 2010

Mega disaster

General Info:

• Eruptions over a couple of months in early 2010, lasting from March to June

• VEI of 4 which is relatively small for a volcano

• Erupted in 920, 1612, 1821 and 1823 before the 2010 eruption

• Many warning signs before the eruption as over 3000 earthquakes occurred but they were all magnitude 2 or less, barely being able to be felt

• Scientists were worried at the time that the eruption was a precursor to the much more active and dangerous Katla volcano

Iceland’s capacity to cope:

• Potential eruptions and floods are monitored by the Icelandic Meteorological office (IMO)

• The IMO worked closely with the University of Iceland and British Meteorological Office, where the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre VAAC is stationed. The ash was tracked by many different nations

• Many countries had a great capacity to cope in terms of making predictions and providing alternatives for companies and people stranded by air travel

• Iceland being a part of the EU Trading Bloc, very rich $15,167 billion GDP combined, allows it access to its vast financial capacity so it can respond easily to threats posed natural hazards

Primary Impacts:

• Despite many in Iceland being unaffected by the ash due to it only affecting uninhabited areas, some had to wear goggles and face masks who lived near the volcano because the ash was so thick.

• 500 farmers and their families had to be evacuated from the area surrounding area with many roads having to be shut down

• The ash contaminated local water supplies and farmers were warned not to let their livestock drink from it

Secondary Impacts:

• Vast ash clouds engulfed the Northern and Western European airspace and prevented planes from travelling as fine ash particles clog up the engines of planes. During the main 8-day travel ban, over 107,000 flights were cancelled

• This is thought to have cost associated businesses and airlines £130 million a day

• Hundreds of people were stranded in foreign countries unable to get home

• Transport companies such as bike and car hires drastically increased their prices as people sought other ways to get home

• Perishable goods (over 1 million flower stalks) unable to be transported by plane, 50,000 farmers temporarily unemployed

• It is thought that the amount of co2 in the air by the ash cloud will not make a significant difference to the environment

• The main environmental risks were to ash impacting on soils