2010 Eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull

1. 2010 Eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull

2. Region’s population and economy • Pop. Of the country-approx. 320 000 • Around 2/3 live in the area of Reykjavik (the capital), 120 000-in the city itself • Economy heavily dependent on the fishing industry: it brings about 40% of export earnings, contributes to the GDP by 12%, and employs around 7% of the workforce • Economy sensitive to the changes in the fish stock on world-market prices

3. Region’s population and economy • GDP per capita: 38 000 $ (very high, 27th place in the world) • Other main industries: aluminium smelting, geothermal and hydropower, tourism • Labour occupation: 73% -services, 22.2%-industry, 4.8% - agriculture • Generally wealthy country with strong economy, despite of a crisis in 2008

4. Preparation with regard to a volcano eruption • Education at school • Seismic monitors around the country • Experience with regard to volcanoes due to previous eruptions • Good ways of communication; radio, telephones, communicates • Generally well informed, aware and communicative society

5. Vulnerability • Aware and educated society • The authorities and emergency services well experieced and prepared • Good infrastructure and means of communication allow safe evacuation • Good economical situation, so the country can afford the emergency actions • Most of the population lives away from the volcano • Generally little vulnerability

6. Perception of the hazard • No surprise, people got used to live with the volcano, • It didn’t cause threat or panic, also due to the fact that there was not much risk for a human life in this case • Has been perceived almost as normality, part of a cycle of a volcano • However the precautions and procedures are taken seriously by a society

7. probability of volcanoes in Iceland • High probability of occurrence because of the geographical location of Iceland. •  situated on a raised part of the oceanic crust, and not a continental land mass at all • Located on the mid-Atlantic ridge, a divergent tectonic plate boundary • geologically very active, hosting many active volcanoes and geysers

8. Frequency of occurrence • Has experienced several volcanic eruptions. • Iceland is home to 130 volcanoes, eighteen of which have erupted. The total lava flow from these eruptions have resulted in one third of the world's total laval outflow.  • worst ever volcanic eruption was in 1783 in the Lakagigar Crater, which caused the largest, single lava flow 

9. Frequency of occurrence • Eyjafjallajokullvolcano in March 2010 •  most active of these volcanoes is Grimsvotn, which last erupted in May 2011. 

10. Measures to reduce the risk and damage of a potential disaster • Evacuation of people from the volcanic active areas to safer grounds • Scientists working on an ash cloud detection system believe that airlines will soon be able to do just that. •  develop infrared technology to help pilots see and steer around ash clouds • Intensive awareness via media, internet and other technological means.

11.  AVOID (Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector) which uses an infra-red camera to see how dense particular areas of ash are.

12. Spatial extent of the disaster • The ash cloud spread across Europe disrupting air travel in western europe. • more than 10 million passengers were affected when more than 100,000 flights were cancelled. • The Scandinavian countries were the most affected as they are closer to iceland

13. Duration and onset • First a couple of tremors, before the first eruption • Second eruption followed a couple of days later, and continued erupting • First explosion: small amount of ice, no danger of flooding, nearby area evacuated

14. Causes and Impacts, and International response • Situated above a hotspot, experiences frequent volcanic activity due to location on a diverging plate boundary • Airlines, whole airports were closed, huge ash cloud covering most of western Europe skyline; air traffic completely stopped due to dangerous ash and ice particles damaging the engine and the aircraft • Travellers stranded in airports unable to return

15. Bibliography • A map: http://www.welt-atlas.de/map_of_iceland_1-476 • CIA the World Factbooks: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html • Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland