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DSE Geog Essay 地理例子 | C1: Volcanic Eruption in Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland

Causes:

  • Constructive plate boundary --> rising convection currents --> tensional force --> North American Plate and Eurasian Plate move apart/ diverge (process: sea-floor spreading along Mid-Atlantic Ridge) --> pressure builds up on the plates --> cracks/ lines of weaknesses develop --> magma rises up --> volcanic ash and lava flow out from the crater. This is the occurrence of volcanic eruption​


Case study: Iceland eruptions in 2010

  • 1st eruption: March 2010

  • 2nd eruption: April 2010


Negative impacts

  • Melted ice water from the glacier --> rise in sea level by 3m on 14 April --> rushing water broke a section of Iceland's main coastal ring road near Reykjavik (the capital)

  • Volcanic ash --> blown to extensive areas --> lowers visibility --> disrupts (better not to use the word "affect") air traffic, e.g. over 63,000 flights were cancelled in 23 European countries like the UK, Norway, Denmark

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