Geography Question

With reference to two recent volcanic eruptions you have studied from contrasting areas of the world, compare the impacts of these volcanic events and the ways in which they have been managed (40 marks)

Two recent volcanic eruptions, which I have studied, are Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland (MEDC) and the Soufiére Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat (LEDC) Both of these eruptions were large scale and recent which caused wide-spread problems for the population. Impacts of the eruptions between the two varied greatly due to the differences in the management strategies of the two countries. Management strategy for protecting a country against a volcanic eruption involves the “predict', protect and plan” an important factor in minimizing the negative factors of a volcanic eruption, which can vary in scale from crop failure to death.

Eyjafjallajokull is located in the south of Iceland on a constructive plate boundary, the North American and Eurasian plate as well as coinciding with a hotspot. Eruption occurred in April 2010, due to two fissures opening up on separate occasions by convection currents moving apart, causing a huge amount of basaltic lava to erupt out of the volcano and the ash plume reached 11,000m into the air, measuring a scale of 4 on the VEI scale.

There were many impacts caused by this eruption, social, economic and political. Airline grounded for 7 days causing a loss of $2billion, this closure also affected many European countries that relied heavily on freighted imports and exports. As well as this, Kenya also lost $1.3 million, as they were unable to export plants and vegetables to Europe. Farms were destroyed and flight cancellation cost an estimated $200 million a day. This not only again affected Iceland but London lost £102 million of tourist income, causing a knock on effect for workers travelling and businesses. Political impacts included a number of world leaders and politicians had to postpone trips, diverted and even delayed. Social impacts included the evacuation of 700 people and 20 farms being destroyed. Main roads including Route 1 were destroyed and even bulldozed to allow flash flood water reach the sea. The cancellation of flights had severe social impacts on people being stranded overseas. Finally, 150m of thick ice cap melted by the eruption causing major flooding. Adding to the environmental impacts fine ash silted the rivers, which caused blockages, some of these, environmental impacts were shown as far as Britain, which during that time saw fine anticyclonic weather.

Soufiére Hills volcano in Montserrat erupted in 1997 when the North American plate subducted under the Caribbean plate. There was a series of small-scale earthquakes, which could be seen as early warning signs prior to the eruption, followed by huge pyroclastic flows. The main eruption then came with 4-5million metres cubed of material being released; the volcano was originally thought to be extinct when in actual fact it laid dormant for 300 years.

Compared to Eyjafjallajokull, Soufiére Hills’ social impacts were much greater, as 10,000 people were reduced 3,000 people after evacuation. More people being evacuated meant that enrolment in schools dropped from 2,672 to 620. Many people who remained experienced severe health issues including posttraumatic stress. Similarly though to Iceland, airports and seaports were exclusions zone meaning they were unable to be used. However, this also meant evacuation of this poorer country was a much slower process unlike the MEDC. Due to the huge amount of pyroclastic flows there was widespread damage, including destroying the airport and farmlands; although since the eruption soil fertility has vastly improved. Another environmental impact caused by this eruption meant that the capital Plymouth was covered in ash and mud. Even though, the cost of damage is not as great as the MEDC volcanic eruption, Soufiére Hills volcano