Tectonics- E15

• Stratovolcano


  Composite volcano
• Eruption date


  2010-03-20
• Eruption location


  • Constructive plate boundary (divergent)
  • Not North American plate, Eurasian plate
• Eruption spot was under ice sheet, after being dormant for around 200 years
• Eruption


  Caused floods reaching peak discharge
• Eruption destroyed social and infrastructure
• Ash wasn't limited to the local area
• Combination of winds blowing towards Europe, very fine ash and persistent eruption lasting 39 days magnified the impact
• Eruption progression


  1. March - mainly lava eruptions

  2. 14.4 - much more explosive, huge quantities of ash into atmosphere
• Primary impacts of the E15 eruption in Iceland in 2010

  • Ash blocked out sun, rescuers wore face masks
  • Homes and roads damaged, roads washed away
  • Services disrupted
  • Crops destroyed by ash
  • European airspace brought to a standstill, 100,000s of flights cancelled
  • Billions of euros in delays, losing around £130m a day