Eyjafjallajokull (HIC)

• Eyjafjallajökull is a stratovolcano located on the Mid Atlantic Ridge in Iceland on a constructive plate boundary
• The 14th April 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull was a 4 on the VEI scale but resulted in no deaths
• Primary effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption included:

  • 230 million m^3 of tephra ejected 11km into the air
  • Toxic gases
• Secondary effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption included:

  • Lahars
  • Flooding
  • Respiratory illnesses
  • Increased tourism (1.7 million per year)
• In response to the Eyjafjallajökull eruption:

  • Flights were cancelled over six continents
  • Levees were broken to protect the road
  • Buildings were repaired and secured against ash
  • Embankments were reinforced
  • The volcano was monitored and measured with 80 seismometers and GPS antennas