One of the local impacts of Eyjafjallajökull was flooding. Jökulhlaups are more common in Iceland than elsewhere in the world because of the interaction of volcanoes with glaciers.

One of the local impacts of Eyjafjallajökull was flooding. Jökulhlaups are more common in Iceland than elsewhere in the world because of the interaction of volcanoes with glaciers.

Jökulhlaups (glacier outburst floods)

The greatest jökulhlaups from the sub glacial Katla volcano are among the largest floods that humans have witnessed. At their maximum, the discharge may be larger than the average discharge of the River Amazon.

Yet Icelanders have learned to avoid the outwash plains of the most frequent jökulhlaups.

Viewing the video clips plus the images and diagrams in the presentation, how do you think the flooding from Eyjafjallajökull changed the landscape and impacted on the local farms?

Watch videos Glacial flood footage 1

Glacial flood footage 2

Map source: Icelandic Meteorological Office

Gígjökull glacier and lagoon a few days before the second (April) Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Gígjökull glacier and lagoon the second (April)

Eyjafjallajökull eruption

Was the Eyjafjallajökull eruption an ‘ashpocalypse’ for the Icelandic population and environment?

Part of this image has been hidden. Imagine what the landscape is like behind this farm. Write a description of what you would see. Use your existing knowledge of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

Part of this image has been hidden. Imagine what the landscape is like behind this farm. Write a description of what you would see. Use your existing knowledge of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

Is this what you expected? How would you feel if you lived here?Is this what you expected? How would you feel if you lived here?

What?

Who?

Where? How?

Why?

When?

Lots of tourists wanted to visit the first eruption.

The community all worked together to clear up the ash.

What were the local effects of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption?

As you identify each effect, classify it into human or physical using the Venn diagram. Circle positive effects and underline negative effects. An example has been done for you.

Environment or people?

Many farmers successfully cleared their farms with the help of volunteers.Many farmers successfully cleared their farms with the help of volunteers.

Environment or people?

Farms in the area were covered in ash. Animals had to be kept inside barns.Farms in the area were covered in ash. Animals had to be kept inside barns.

Environment or people?

Large boulders were swept down the valleys by glacial floodwater.Large boulders were swept down the valleys by glacial floodwater.

Day turned to night as visibility reduced to 1-2 metres.Day turned to night as visibility reduced to 1-2 metres.

Environment or people?

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Living under the volcano

The footage features an interview with Inga Júlía who lives on the farm Þorvaldseyri just south of Eyjafjallajökull. Inga is in charge of Þorvaldseyri, a the visitors centre illustrating the impact of the eruption on the farm.