Now watch the following video and look at
the images after before completing the
table
Inspired by Iceland
Scary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Safe
Cold
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Warm
Barren
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Fertile
Boring
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Inspiring
Ordinary
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Special
Flat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mountainous
Empty
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Full
Quiet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Busy
Rural
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Urban
Same
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Different
Case study of a Volcanic
Eruption
Here is what the syllabus says you need to know
about volcanoes:
1. Different types of volcanoes; this means
shield and ?? volcanoes
2. A case study of a volcanic eruption; its
cause (i.e. Plate movements), primary and
secondary effects, positive and negative
impacts; immediate and long term
responses
3. Monitoring and predicting volcanic eruptions.
You will know one thing
about each of the causes,
effects and responses to
an eruption
You will know several
things about each of
the causes, effects and
responses
to
an
eruption and be able to
link most of them
together
Lesson Objectives on an eruption case study
You will know several things
about each of the causes,
effects and responses to an
eruption
We are going to look at the eruption of
Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland as our case
study
Introduction
to the
eruption including
Location
Eyjafjalljokull
Eyja
Islands
fjalla
mountain
jökull
glacier
EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL
‘A – yar – fi – at – lah – yok –
ult’
Causes of the eruption
• Iceland is situated on the mid
Atlantic ridge. This is on the plate
boundary between the north
American plate and the Eurasian
plate
Up to 19th March 2010 scientists monitoring tectonic activity
detected small earthquakes caused by magma moving
through fissures in the Earth’s crust. They predicted that an
eruption was close.
Eyjafjallajökull
1. Small cracks, or fissures, in
the Earth’s crust allow molten
magma to force its way towards
the surface.
Diagram reference: Keilir - Atlantic Center of Excellence
Fimmvörðuháls
2. Magma chambers are
formed close the
surface. Magma collects
in these.
3. As more
magma is
stored in
the
chamber,
pressure
builds up.
Eventually,
the
pressure is
strong
enough to
start an
eruption.
0th March
Magma finds its way to the surface. Lava
rupts through a 0.5km long volcanic
ssure at Fimmvörðuháls. This is a rocky
rea between the Eyjafjallajökull and
Mýrdalsjökull glaciers.
The eruption created spectacular lava flows. As the eruption
was not below the ice, there was no danger of flooding. Many
people flocked to see the eruption creating ice motorways over
the ash covered glaciers.
The eruption was considered so
safe that tourists, including some
ladies in high heels, were
helicoptered close to the eruption.
Some called the eruption a
‘volcanic Disneyland.’
By the 31st March lava and basalt
covered around one square
kilometre and many thought that
the eruption was over.
On the 12th April a second volcanic fissure opened and scientists
measured a 3.2 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake was
close to the surface which suggested that magma was once again
on the move. On 13th April another earthquake measuring 2.5
magnitude was recorded beneath the Eyjafjallajökull ice cap.
At 1.15am on the 14th April
Eyjafjallajökull burst open. The
volcanic fissure cut though 200m
of ice. Huge plumes of tephra
and ash were ejected into the
atmosphere and the ice melted.
By the 16th April the eruption had caused glacial floods,
or jökulhlaups. Ash had reached up to 8km high in the
atmosphere and lava flows reached 3km from the volcanic
fissure.
What were the main events of the eruption between 19th
March and 16th April 2010?
Start Here
19th March.
Scientists monitoring the
area measured earthquakes
caused by magma moving
into fissures
Map compiled by Páll Einarsson
and Ásta Rut Hjartardóttir, The
Geo-science Institute of the
University of Iceland
20th March.
At 11:30pm a volcanic
fissure opened at
Fimmvörðuháls, a rocky
area between two glaciers
This eruption produced a
spectacular ‘volcanic
Disneyland’ and tourists
flocked to the site to see
amazing lava flows.
31st March. New basalt (the
rock created by cooling lava)
covered around 1 square
kilometre
Many thought that the
eruption was over.
14-16th April.
Over the next four days, ash
was ejected up to 8 km high
in the atmosphere and lava
flowed up to 3 km from the
main vent.
1.15am 14th April.
Eyjafjallajökull burst open once more
and a fissure opened through 200m of
ice covering the volcano. A huge cloud
of tephra and ash started to come out
of the volcanic vent.
12th April.
A second volcanic fissure
opened during an earthquake
measuring 3.2 magnitude
beneath Eyjafjallajökull and
many smaller earthquakes
were recorded
13thth April
A series of shallow
earthquakes were recorded
Play video
Birth of an Island
So that is the introduction and causes
done..... Remember the Lesson
objectives?
You will know one thing
about each of the causes,
effects and responses to
an eruption
You will know several
things about each of
the causes, effects and
responses
to
an
eruption and be able to
link most of them
together
Lesson Objectives on an eruption case study
You will know several things
about each of the causes,
effects and responses to an
eruption
Effects of Eyjafjallajökull
primary and secondary effects,
positive and negative impacts;
immediate and long term responses
Use lesson 4 local effects
Use lesson 5 global effects