E15 - Iceland

• Seismic activity started at the end of 2009 and increased until on 20th march 2010 there was a small eruption
• in 14th April 2010 there was a second eruption leaving an ash cloud
• increased seismic activity in Dec 2009 and ground deformation in February. the first eruption 20th march - fissure eruption
• the strato volcano was directly under the jet stream
• this volcano was under a glacier:

  the rapidly vaporising water significantly increased its explosively

  the erupting lava cooled fast creating a highly abrasive glass-ash cloud
• social effects:

  schools were shut

  nobody died

  the following year there was a 25% increase in respiratory illnesses

  800 people evacuated from flooding

  long term health impacts unclear- lambs showed black dots in the lungs
• economic effect:

  flooding of farmlands, communications roads and bridges were swept away

  led to national debt and recession over the next three years. food prices were high

  short term tourism increases (10,000) then a 11% dip in tourism the next year due to the loss of tourist confidence and continuing volcanic activity

  fishing ports were destroyed
• environmental effects:

  land was left infertile from the ash

  rivers were flooded

  carbon dioxide levels were reduced
• social effects internationally

  uk government sent navy to pick up tourists

  uk schools shut

  1 person couldn’t get a heart transplant from Canada- impact unknown
• economic effects internationally:

  17000 flights grounded within the first 24 hours

  flights were grounded for 7 days

  airlines lost tens of millions of pounds

  Europe's GPD fell by £2.5 billion between April 2010 and April 2011

  European air travel dropped by 12% in the following year since the eruption

  exports from Kenya flowers and tea had a £3 million a day loss.