Discuss Whether the Most Significant Impacts of the Eyjafjallajokull Were International Rather Than Local

Discuss whether the most significant impacts of the Eyjafjallajokull were international rather than local

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is a dramatic yet picturesque and beautiful landscape. Home to magnificent natural features such as glaciers, waterfalls and volcanoes, it is an incredible place to visit. The spectacular island is the second largest in Europe and located between the Greenland Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It sits on a constructive plate boundary; the violent tug of war between the two plates causes Iceland to gradually get bigger. Iceland is the most volcanically active place in the world, due to tectonic plate activity. Disruptive eruptions occur about every five years. The most recent eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in April 2010, caused havoc both internationally and locally, in this essay I will be discussing which had a bigger impact.

The eruption caused mass devastation in Iceland, and the locals, who were living in fear of another eruption, suffered immensely. Over 700 shocked Icelanders were woken by a phone call in the dead of night to be told that they only had 20 minutes to be evacuate the area. They had to leave their pets, cattle and sheep, possessions and lives at home could only return once a day until the ash was cleared.

The tonnes of ash that poured out of the crater covered Iceland in a blanket 5cm thick. It polluted the river water and contaminated the fresh water, making it unsafe to drink. It got in people’s eyes, nose and mouth, which triggered breathing problems and many became ill. The eruption occurred at the beginning of the lambing season, which is one of Iceland’s main exports. Sadly, many of the young lambs were unable to survive due to respiratory problems caused by the ash. The farming industry was effected greatly, not only did they loose livestock, but crops too. It was impossible to grow any new plants immediately after the eruption because of the polluted ash and torrents of melt water from a near-by glacier flooded near by areas. Economically, Iceland lost money from the lack of crops and livestock.

However, there were also some positive impacts. The lava and ash deposited during an eruption eventually breaks down to provide valuable nutrients in the soil, which becomes very fertile and is good for agriculture and the economy in the long term. Also tourist attractions bring income to the area. Scientist’s knowledge of volcanic activity improved greatly, which was very positive as Iceland is now better prepared for future eruptions.

Although Iceland is 1,000 miles away from Britain, the eruption still caused havoc. Volcanic ash contained tiny shards of glass that would have affected engines on airplanes. Therefore, thousands flights were cancelled which left tourists stranded in unfamiliar countries. Some unfortunate people missed important events such as weddings, funerals etc. However In 2010, I believed the I had a family holiday in Portugal, and the volcanic