Volcano Case Study

Volcano Case Study

1. Eyjafjallajokull

2. Causes

   • The volcano is on the boundary of the Eurasion and North American plate
     • The plates were on a constructive plate boundary.
       • Magma rose to the top causing the volcano to erupt

3. Primary Effects

   • Glacier on top of volcano melted causing a huge ash cloud to cover most of the world
   • 500 farmers evacuated away from the volcano
   • Earthquakes

4. Secondary Effects

   • Flights delayed - £130 million lost in the airline industry
   • Flash Floods
   • Hundreds of thousands of tourists stranded in foreign countries

5. Global Effects

   • Kenya
     • 20% of the Kenyan economy is based on the export of green vegetables (beans, sugar-snap peas and okra) and cut flowers to Europe
       • These are perishable goods and they are transported by plane to keep them fresh.
     • No flights into Europe meant products returned unsold and destroyed.
     • The ash cloud has cost the Kenyan economy millions of pounds during the flight ban.

6. Responses

   • Short Term
     • 700 people evacuated
     • 500 farms evacuated
     • Flights grounded
   • Long Term
     • Residents now get 30 minute warnings
     • Monitering of neighbouring volcanoes