On your smart device, download one of the free volcano and earthquake monitoring apps. Over the next week, track every volcanic eruption or earthquake using the app. Record at least two of these into your copy. Look up the location and find out what plate boundaries are located close by. Compare your record with your classmates’.
2.6 The Economic and Social Impacts of Volcanoes
Case Study: The Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland
Iceland is a volcanic island located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Here, convection currents are pulling the North American and Eurasian Plates apart. This has resulted in many volcanoes.
Rate of spreading = 2.5 cm per year North American plate (moves west) Eurasian plate (moves east)
A map of volcanoes in Iceland
Snæfellsjökull
Iceland Loki-Fögrufjöll Reykjavik Hekla
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Eyjafjallajökull Surtsey Island
Katia Öræfajökull
volcano island
Krafla Askja
Grímsvötn and Laki
1. Locate the Eyjafjallajökull volcano on the map. Where is it in relation to Iceland’s capital city?
2. There are a number of active volcanoes in Iceland. How do you think the people living in the surrounding areas have adapted to life near a volcano?
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Volcanic Activity
Fun Fact!
The US Air Force nicknamed the volcano ‘E15’. How did they come up with this name, do you think?
