e15

    Cards (16)

      • GDP of Iceland = $ 42,449 
      • Population density of Iceland = 3.35 per sq km 
      • HDI of Iceland = 0.9
      • Literacy rate of Iceland = 99%
      • VEI of E15 = 4
    • plate boundary location of E15
      • E15 is one of Iceland’s smaller ice caps which covers the caldera of a volcano 1666m in height.
      • Volcano had been dormant for 200 years.
      • 200m of overlying glacial ice on top. Located on divergent plate boundary & hot spot. (N. American & Eurasion plates) 
    • 1st E15 eruption  - On flanks of volcano.
      • Fissure eruption 150m in length & 150m high lava fountains.
      • Lava flows for 2-3 weeks.
      • Basaltic & viscous = slow stream.
      • Ash ejected 4km into atmosphere. 
    • 2nd E15 eruption  -  Erupted from main crater of caldera under ice cap
      • led to subglacial & phreatomagmatic eruption – occurs when water comes into contact with hot magma – causing rapid cooling & resulting in explosive release of fine ash.
      • Since E15 erupted under glacial ice – the ice melted into crater leading to cooling of basaltic magma & ash explosion.
      • Explosive nature due to instantaneous evaporation of water into steam
    • Why do people choose to live in Iceland (near E15)? =
      • Tourism & livestock farming = jobs.
      • Fertile soils & mountain to protect from cold N winds.
      • Geothermal energy generates 26% of electricity – byproduct is hot water = heating for 90% of homes & heated greenhouses.
      • Emotional attachment as generations lived in farms – ‘Fire-sermon’ by priest believed to prevented village from lava flows. Low risk perception as frequent eruptions
    • hazards created by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption =
      • an 8 Mile High ash plume.
      • 230 m of ash.
      • Ice boulders blasted upwards landing in farms
      • flooding caused by glacial meltwater.
      • Non viscous lava flow.
      • Polar jet stream carried ash across western Europe 
    • Social impacts = E15
      • zero deaths
      • 800 people were evacuated overnight during the explosive phase of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption
    • Impacts on economy/tourism – E15 =
      • Tourism in short term – visited lava fountains & lava flows. 
      • 2nd eruption – tourism drop, however soon return when media showed Iceland recovering.
      • No. of tourists 3x since 2010 eruption.
      • Eruption attracted global footage & showcased ‘land of fire & ice’.
      • LAVA = new interactive museum on tectonic hazards opened in 2017 
    • Environmental impacts – E15 =
      • Thick layer of ash fell on farmland.
      • Fertile land created due to ash – leading to bumper harvest.
      • Meltwater caused local rivers to rise rapidly & flooding.
      • Main orbital road closed & damaged caused 
    • international impacts of E15 =
      • Volcano located directly under polar jet stream = ash went up to where planes fly. Ash blown from NW -> SE across Europe.
      • Ash could cause planes engine to stall & crash = 6 day flight ban.
      • Cost £2.5 bil to European airline companies.
      • 2 week global impact on tourism & trade.
      • Kenya lost millions of £ as couldn’t export/trade
      • No impact on global temps
    • Attempts to mitigate against event – E15 =
      • Locals received training in emergency procedures.
      • But cannot prevent hazards such as ash & lava 
    • Attempts to mitigate vulnerability – (monitoring & prediction) – E15 =
      • Good hazard management due to high frequency of events.
      • 80 seismometers & 120 GPS stations to monitor.
      • All information sent to Reykjavik monitoring institute.
      • GPS monitor ground deformation - found that ground had rose by 8cm = magma flowing into chamber & pushing rock up
      • Seismic activity increased 48hrs prior 
    • Attempts to mitigate vulnerability – (protective measures) – E15 =
      • Local population issued with face masks & 800 evacuated overnight as respiratory problems due to ash.
      • Livestock taken inside to escape ash as can cause internal haemorrhaging in cattle/sheep.
      • Evacuation of people living in south of volcano – farmers & villages returned when safe to do so.
    • Attempts to mitigate loses – short term – E15 =
      • Local reservoir dug out near town of Vik to hold back meltwater from glacial melt. 
      • Breaching of a main road allowing floodwater through in order to save bridge – cheaper to repair road than bridge.
      • Search & rescue by well-equipped emergency service.
      •  Met office maintained contact with Iceland & produced forecast models of ash clouds to predict areas that would be affected. 
    • Future concerns following E15 =
      • Global warming – cause more volcanoes to become active on Iceland as glaciers melt & weight on crust unloaded.
      • Lower pressure on crust = melting of mantle rock (decompression melt) & magma production