E15 2010

    Cards (5)

    • Key Details:
      • Location: E15, a glacier-covered volcano in southern Iceland.
      • Date: Eruption began on 20th March 2010, with a larger explosive phase on 14th April 2010.
      • Type: Phreatomagmatic (interaction of magma and ice), producing a massive ash cloud.
    • Local Impacts:
      • Flooding: Melting glacier ice caused floods, leading to evacuations.
      • Ashfall: Covered farmlands, damaging crops and affecting livestock.
      • Disruptions: Roads closed, homes and infrastructure damaged.
    • Global Impacts:
      • Air travel disruptions: The ash cloud spread over Europe, causing 100,000+ flight cancellations over a week. 10 million passengers stranded, major economic losses (~$1.7 billion).
      • Economic impact: Airlines, businesses, and tourism suffered losses. Some industries (e.g. Kenya's flower exports) were badly hit due to flight cancellatations.
      • Environmental impact: The ash cloud dispersed quickly, but emitted CO2 into the atmosphere.
    • Management and Response:
      • Evacuations and monitoring: Iceland's authorities responded quickly to protect locals.
      • Airspace closures: European aviation authorities grounded flights to ensure safety.
      • Research and future planning: Led to improved volcanic ash forecasting to prevent similar disruptions.
    • The E15 eruption highlighted the vulnerability of global transport systems to natural disasters, leading to better volcanic monitoring and aviation response strategies.
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