Eyjafjallajkull Volcano (2010)

Gillian Brabers
250680496
Western University
Geography 2152G
Mark Moscicki
Mar. 24, 2016

Description of the Event

On April 14th 2010 at 1:30am, Icelands Eyjafjallajkull volcano erupted causing an
outburst of steam and ash (Sigmundsson, 2013). It produced approximately 30,000 to 60,000
litres of magma every second of its eruption (Jha, 2010). Its plume reached almost 7 miles into
the atmosphere (Jha, 2010). This is not significantly high for a volcanic eruption however it
coincided with the jetstream above Iceland which propelled the ash cloud across northern Europe
(Heiken, 2013). This ash was very fine which enabled it to linger in the atmosphere (Ravilious,
2014). Modern technology allowed for continuous updates on the plume progression and the
settling of Eyjafjallajkull (Sigmundsson, 2013).
The eruption was pre-empted by the flowing of lava between the Eyjafjallajkull glacier
and the Mrdalsjkull glacier which started on March 20 (Jha, 2010). This was indicated by the
red cloud that arose over the glacier and an increase in earthquakes (Prager, 2010). Earth
scientists had warned about its potential eruption but were not given much attention (Jha, 2011).
This lava finally surfaced on April 14 causing the eruption (Eyjafjallajkull volcano, 2016).
Eyjafjallajkulls activity lasted until May 22, 2010 (Sigmundsson, 2013).
This stratovolcano is located in southern Iceland, below the Eyjafjallajkull glacier, at
1,666m above sea level (Prager, 2010). It is one of Icelands oldest volcanoes (Sturkell, 2010).
Eyjafjallajkull has had four previous eruptions, however the last eruption was almost two
centuries ago in 1821 (Eyjafjallajkull volcano, 2016).
The 2010 eruption threatened the local area due to glacial flooding (Sigmundsson, 2013).
The most severe floods occurred within 60 hours of the April eruption (Snorrason et al., 2012).
Its index of explosivity was ranked as three out of eight (Ravilious, 2014). Iceland experiences
15 eruptions of a similar scale every century (Ravilious, 2014). Despite its low ranking, the

Eyjafjallajkull eruption generated a lot of attention because of its global impact (Ravilious,
2014).
Causes
Volcanoes typically are located near tectonic plate boundaries, including Eyjafjallajkull
(Prager, 2010). It is atop a hot spot on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which makes Iceland one of the
most volcanically active areas in the world (Prager, 2010). However, the main areas of divergent
plate motion between the Eastern Volcanic Zone and the Western Volcanic Zone occur away
from Eyjafjallajkull (Sturkell, 2010).
The Eyjafjallajkull volcano is covered by 200m thick layer of ice from the
Eyjafjallajkull glacier, with a 2.5km-wide crater (Sturkell, 2010). Its eruption allowed more
research on the hydrological hazards of ice-capped volcanoes (Snorrason et al., 2012). It caused
an explosion of magma to connect with the glacier ice which resulted in fine ash and vapor
(Heiken, 2013). Eyjafjallajkull was atypical because it did not deflate after eruption which is
expected (Jha, 2010).
The University of Icelands Nordic Volcanological Centre determined later that
Eyjafjallajkull began shows signs of eruption 11 weeks prior to its eruption in March (Jha,
2010). One of its flanks has been swollen from flowing underground magma (Jha, 2010).
Any eruptions of Eyjafjallajkull are particularly concerning to residents of Iceland
because they usually indicate the future eruption of Katla, a nearby larger volcano (Gunnarsson
& McVeigh, 2010). These concerns were unnecessary in 2010 because Katla did not erupt after
Eyjafjallajkull (Gunnarsson & McVeigh, 2010).

Impacts
Due to concerns about Eyjafjallajkulls ash cloud affecting aircraft engines, much of
Europes air travel was grounded from April 15 to 21, 2010 (Heiken, 2013). This closure is the
greatest peacetime disruption of air travel in history (Prager, 2010). It caused the airline industry
to lose over $3 billion (Prager, 2010). Airlines lost roughly $200 million each of the six days that
the airspace was closed (Heiken, 2013). The lack of air travel options caused the public to seek
out alternative travel through car-hire firms, cabs, Eurostar, and the hotel industry (Crace, 2010).

Figure 1
The plume of Eyjafjallajkulls eruption. An outline of Iceland is shown to provide
geographical context. (Iceland: Eyjafjallajkull, 2016)

Air travel was halted across Europe in 32 countries (Heiken, 2013) which caused ten
million delayed and stranded passengers, see Figure 1 (Sample, 2011). Luckily, spring is not
peak tourist season or else there could have been greater losses (BBC News1, 2010). However,
tourism was still negatively affected (BBC News1, 2010). The amount of cancellations were
slightly countered by the amount of stranded passengers who needed to extend their stays (BBC
News1, 2010).
Eyjafjallajkulls eruption and subsequent air closure greatly affected businesses that
relied on air travel (Heiken, 2013). Electronic companies in Asia as well as non-commercial
needs like organ deliveries were affected (Davies, 2010). Distant countries suffered greatly as
well. Kenyas horticulture industry lost $3 million per day because it was unable to transport its
products (Lee et al., 2012). A BMW plant in Bavaria closed for several days because it lacked the
necessary parts coming from Japan (Jones and Mendoza Bolivar, 2011).
Fortunately, Eyjafjallajkulls eruption did not have any significant impact on climate
change (Adam, 2010). Although, it did cause a decrease in carbon emissions (Adam, 2010). The
Environmental Transport Association estimates that the ban on air travel prevented 2.8 tonnes of
carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere (Adam, 2010).
Response
Iceland has had a lot of experience with volcanic eruptions (Prager, 2010). It has been
present to a third of all of Earths erupted lava in the past 500 years (Prager, 2010). Icelands
population has had response training and are knowledge of evacuation procedures (Sigmundsson,
2013). This knowledge and the in-place response plans greatly limited potential casualties
(Sigmundsson, 2013).

Figure 2
Eyjafjallajkulls eruption site. The blue dotted line shows the path of subglacial meltwater.
The black area depicts the flood inundated areas. (Snorrason et al., 2012)
As a precaution, the surrounding area was evacuated due to Eyjafjallajkulls uncertain
development (Sigmundsson, 2013). Flooding in the area caused around 800 people to be
evacuated, see Figure 2 (Gunnarsson, 2010). Based on past experience with flooding, there are
defensive walls in place to limit possible damage (Gunnarsson, 2010). This enabled most
evacuated families to return to their farms by nightfall (Gunnarsson, 2010). They have also
constructed their bridges to withstand the harsh conditions (Gunnarsson, 2010). Many farmers
were evacuated whose farmland was severely damaged by the ash and flooding (Gunnarsson,
2010). The civil protection department warned nearby residents to wear protective clothing,
goggles, and masks to limit exposure to the ash (Gunnarsson, 2010). The Icelandic Met Office
provided continuous updates throughout the eruption to best inform the public (Lee et al., 2012).
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The International Civil Aviation Organization warned aircraft to avoid any contact with
the ash cloud (Sigmundsson, 2013). This was reinforced by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in
London (Sigmundsson, 2013). Volcanic ash contains silica which can melt the engines and clog
the cooling systems (Sample, 2010). This would cause all engines to fail which aircraft are not
designed to handle (Sample, 2010). The airspace of 32 European countries was closed from April
15 to 21 to avoid potential ash damage (Heiken, 2013). This was the largest closure of European
airspace since World War II (BBC News2, 2010).
People were hesitant to allow any aircraft to travel through the ash cloud because of the
damage that occurred in 1982, when a British Airways 747 flew through Indonesias Mount
Galungung eruption (Sample, 2011). Eyjafjallajkulls ash was particularly harmful because its
particles were very sharp and fine (Amos & Black, 2011). This also caused it to linger longer in
the atmosphere than other volcanic ash that is coarser which descends quicker (Amos & Black,
2011).
Recovery
Scientists in collaboration with the University of Iceland have created new procedures to
limit the possible airspace closure, for future European volcanic eruptions (Sample, 2011). These
new procedures will be able to determine whether ash particles are dangerous to humans and
animals within one hour (Sample, 2011). Within a few more hours, its hazard to aircraft will also
be determined (Sample, 2011). By the end of the first day, enough information will be available
to estimate the size, density, and course of the ash cloud (Sample, 2011). However, it is difficult
for the results of future volcanic events to be predicted with entire certainty because of the
variability of the weather and ash composition (BBC News, 2011).

The Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Crisis Co-ordination Cell has
created new guidelines to avoid a repeat of Eyjafjallajkulls impact on air travel (Topham,
2014). The new regulations state that aircraft can travel through ash that is low density, up to
2mg per m3 of air, as it is now considered safe by engine manufacturers (Topham, 2014). At the
time of Eyjafjallajkulls eruption, the International Civil Aviation Organisation banned all flight
traffic though any amount of volcanic ash (Sample, 2010). They would like to avoid complete
closure of airspace in future cases (Amos & Black, 2011). Airlines had been particularly
infuriated by the airspace bans because of their profit loses (BBC News, 2011).
These new regulations were tested with the 2011 eruption of the nearby volcano,
Grmsvtn, which occurred with minimal impact (Amos & Black, 2011). Although, its ash was
courses with a lower silica content which was not as threatening an impact as Eyjafjallajkull
(Amos & Black, 2011). Since Eyjafjallajkulls eruption, sampling techniques and plume
trajectory modeling have both improved which enables authorities to respond quicker (Heiken,
2013).
The Iceland residents nearby the volcano sustained the longest lasting impacts (Cole,
2010). Most of the land surrounding Eyjafjallajkull is farmland which was severely
compromised by its ash and flooding (Cole, 2010). Multiple years are needed to restore the fields
to a viable state (Cole, 2010). It also caused nearby farm animals to be housed so that they were
kept away from the pastures (Cole, 2010). Sharp ash particles lingered in the fields which is
dangerous to animals teeth (Cole, 2010). It is estimated that southern Iceland lost $4.5 million
worth of income (Cole, 2010). The Icelandic government provided financial assistance to these
farmers to help them recover from the damage to their livelihood (Cole, 2010).

Iceland initially had a decrease in tourism because of the ash cloud and flooding damage,
while Eyjafjallajkull was still settling (Cole, 2010). However, their tourism increased more than
usual afterwards because of the intrigue of Eyjafjallajkull (Cole, 2010). People were eager to
see the volcano up-close after so much media coverage (Cole, 2010). This upswing helped
counter the areas monetary loses (Cole, 2010).
Suggestions
In the six years that have passed since Eyjafjallajkulls eruption, society has become
even more dependent on technology which is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters like this
(Prager, 2010). However, societys use of technology also enables disaster detection and quick
widespread warning systems. The continually increasing global population also raises the chance
of human causalities (Ravilious, 2014). This makes the precautionary procedures and possible
prevention methods so crucial. Society continues to improve from natural disasters because they
provide more knowledge which leads to greater protection and prevention. Eyjafjallajkulls
eruption has helped researchers learn more about volcanic behaviour but volcanoes are extremely
variable (Jha, 2010). Volcanic eruptions in Iceland cannot be prevented (Jha, 2010). Iceland will
continually be at risk for more volcanic eruptions. They have sufficient local protection methods
and warning systems, however they need to plan and be organized for potential international
impacts. Eyjafjallajkulls eruption stressed the global influence of natural disasters (Griffin et
al., 2012). It affected more people worldwide than any previous eruption (Sigmundsson, 2013).

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