2010 ICELAND VOLCANO ERUPTION

Question 1: What is the geological explanation of how the volcano erupted?

The plates pulled apart from each other, thus making the volcano erupt. The two plates that moved are known as North American plates and Eurasian plates. The volcano is located at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, so the divergent plates moved apart, thus the volcano erupted. Also, the eruption is due to buoyancy of the two plates.

Question 2: What and why go geologists need to monitor a volcanic eruption?

WHAT?: They monitor the volcanic temperature, water level, lakes, mass movement like rock falls, mud flow, seismicity.

WHY?:By studying volcanic deposits, geologists can plot geology maps to show changes before and after the eruption, the risks in the area, for tourism, flights and business near the area.

Question 3:

(a) What materials spill out of the active volcano?

Ash, smoke, lava and many other solid, liquid and gases. In the gases part, mostly steam spew out and some poisonous gases spew out too. carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide are some examples. the poisonous gases can suffocate people before the ash hits tham. It depends on how built up the gas as to how much it explodes. Molten lava and rocks are also ejected.

(extra info: the ash is covered a lot of places in Iceland, including the planes there. Thus there was a huge disruption in the flights not only in Iceland, but also in many other countries in the world.)

(b) one symptom geologists can rely on in preparation for an eruption?

powerful earthquake, rumbling noise and more vents appearing across the land. however, some of these symptoms may not occur, and the volcano may erupt without any warning.

Impacts of Volcanic eruptions:

The negative impacts of a volcanic eruption is that it will affect:

the tourism,

farming (growing of crops),

human population (deaths),

houses (destroyed by the lava),

the quality of air (ash in the air),

the health of the survivors (poisonous gases ejected from the volcano),

the business (of the businessmen) in the area.

However, there are positive effects of a volcanic eruption:

The soil near the volcano will be more fertile than it was before due to the minerals found in the lava spewed. As the lava will harden and cool, people can re-grow their crops and get a better quality supply of them.

The fertile soil also will be able to produce spectacular scenery, thus boosting tourism.

Ash clouds reduce global temperatures and increase rainfall.

Magma from oceanic volcanoes create new land masses.

What have I learnt?

From this, I have learnt about the materials that spew out of the volcano when it erupts. Also, ash spewed out will affect travelling if it covers transportation vehicles.

sources: http://dl.coastline.edu/classes/internet/geology100/IntroLecture_files/image005.jpg

~Kimberley Lim~