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Eyjafjallajökull – HIC volcanic eruption case study video

Last updated: Jan 30th, 2019

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The Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption is one of the main case studies used in the AQA Unit 3 paper.

We will be visiting this volcano as part of the Iceland tour.

This video provides you with information about its geographical setting, the causes of the eruption, it’s impacts and management.

Have a watch to inform yourself about this volcanic eruption case study.

Comparing an Earthquake or Volcano in a LIC and a HIC

The level of death and injury may be greater in a developing country as the hospitals and emergency services are less effective.

The cost of repair may be greater in a developed country as the infrastructure is more developed. 

More death and destruction may occur around a volcano in a developing country as many subsistence farmers will farm close to the volcanic cone in order to benefit from the fertile soil.

The amount of aid received is probably going to be greater in a developing country as the population's needs are greater.

Greater scientific monitoring and data gathering will occur in developed countries. Therefore, prediction will be more accurate in developed countries, although predicting an earthquake is very difficult. 

Emergency action plans are less likely to be prepared or practised in developing countries.

Secondary effects may be worse in developing country, as the level of poverty means that disease is more likely to spread. 

Why Nepal's Earthquake Was So Devastating?

Which Countries Can Survive Major Earthquakes?

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HIC Case Study - AQA A Level Geography

Subject: Geography

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

21 January 2022

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Lesson 12 for AQA A Level Geography section C. This is the twelfth lesson in section C, an optional physical geography module (choose from Hazards or Ecosystems Under Threat) to be taught alongside modules from section A and B. This lesson covers the earthquakes in New Zealand with a specific focus on Christchurch.

All lessons are designed in the same signature style and come with worksheets and exam questions to match the specification. No other resources are needed.

For more resources visit This is Geography . Full SoW for all new GCSE specifications - AQA , Edexcel , OCR , CIE IGCSE , Edexcel IGCSE and Eduqas . As well as over 200 lessons for KS3 and KS2 . Want something bespoke designing? Email us for further details [email protected]

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Hazards - Section C - AQA A Level Geography

12 part lesson series for section C (physical geography) of the AQA A Level, Hazards. This unit covers plate tectonics, seismic hazards, volcanoes, storm hazards and various hazardous envrionments. All lessons are designed in the same signature style and come with worksheets and exam questions to match the specification. No other resources are needed. Lesson sequence: 1 - Natural Hazards 2 - Plate Tectonics 3 - Types of Plate Margin 4 - Volcanic Hazards 5 - Volcanic Hazards - Impacts and Responses 6 - Seismic Hazards 7 - Seismic Hazards - Impacts and Responses 8 - Storm Hazards 9 - Storm Hazards - Case Study 10 - Wildfries 11 - Multi-Hazard Environment 12 - HIC Case Study For more resources visit [**This is Geography**](http://thisisgeography.co.uk). Full SoW for all new GCSE specifications - [AQA](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/gcse/), [Edexcel](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/edexcel), [OCR](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/ocr/), [CIE IGCSE](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/igcse/), [Edexcel IGCSE](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/edec/) and [Eduqas](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/eduqas/). As well as over 200 lessons for [KS3](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/ks3/) and [KS2](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/ks2/). Want something bespoke designing? Email us for further details [[email protected]](https://thisisgeography.co.uk/bespoke-modules-2/)

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RangerClare

Very basic series of lessons. Massive writing on the sllides to make up for lack of information. Basic info given only and crucially with little thought of activities, tasks or resources for deep thinking and discussion. There is no / very little explanation of physical processes - not even enough to cover GCSE content. Case studies are factual that you can get for free elsewhere. The exam questions when given are not referenced - or are made up - so you have to search for a mark scheme. There are no model answers or lessons that take pupils through the writing of 9 or 20 mark answers. The description given 'you will not need any other resources' is just not true - these lessons don't even form a good base to work from. I don't mind paying for resources, but these are not worth the money.

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AS Geography - Abbi > Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland (HIC Volcanic Case Study) > Flashcards

Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland (HIC Volcanic Case Study) Flashcards

Spatial and temporal distribution of event

April-May 2010 in S Iceland on Mid Atlantic Ridge

Location of Eyjafjallajokull

Constructive plate boundary (Eurasian & N American plates). Over a hotspot.

Magnitude of event

- Area distribution: Europe, Russia, Canada and Kazakhstan had ash in airspace

Why was the eruption more explosive than expected?

Magma heating overlying glacier. Water flowed into the erupting crater and cooled the lava. This added gas content and increased viscosity forming ash high in silica.

Why did it have such widespread impacts?

• Iceland is beneath a polar jet stream
• The jet stream was in a holding pattern blowing NW to SE over Europe
• Ash was very fine and travelled long distances

Local Impacts

• few lived in affected areas
• 80% of tephra fell on Iceland
• Livestock taken inside
• Evacuation of local population
• Local flooding from melted glacier
• Ash fall on Reykjavik airport causing closures
• Attracted further tourists to the area

Perceptions

• Low perception of risk
• IMO constant monitoring
• Frequency of eruption embankments directed flooding

European Impacts

• All flights cancelled
• Cost airlines £130 million per day
• Tourist destinations of stranded tourists had more business
• Europe lost $2.6 billion in GDP
• Slowed trade

Global Impacts

• 7 million passengers stranded worldwide
• 2.8 million tonnes less CO2 emitted
• Global travel slowed

Local Responses

• warnings given and local areas evacuated
• Roads breached to allow flood water movement and protect bridges
• Increased monitoring of nearby volcanoes

International Responses

Closure of most European airspace due to tephra concerns

Why did globalisation worsen impacts?

Increased global travel > more of an economic impact due to trade disruptions.

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Case Study: How does Japan live with earthquakes?

Japan lies within one of the most tectonically active zones in the world. It experiences over 400 earthquakes every day. The majority of these are not felt by humans and are only detected by instruments. Japan has been hit by a number of high-intensity earthquakes in the past. Since 2000 there are have been 16000 fatalities as the result of tectonic activity.

Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the North American, Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine plates come together. Northern Japan is on top of the western tip of the North American plate. Southern Japan sits mostly above the Eurasian plate. This leads to the formation of volcanoes such as Mount Unzen and Mount Fuji. Movements along these plate boundaries also present the risk of tsunamis to the island nation. The Pacific Coastal zone, on the east coast of Japan, is particularly vulnerable as it is very densely populated.

The 2011 Japan Earthquake: Tōhoku

Japan experienced one of its largest seismic events on March 11 2011. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred 70km off the coast of the northern island of Honshu where the Pacific and North American plate meet. It is the largest recorded earthquake to hit Japan and is in the top five in the world since records began in 1900. The earthquake lasted for six minutes.

A map to show the location of the 2011 Japan Earthquake

The earthquake had a significant impact on the area. The force of the megathrust earthquake caused the island of Honshu to move east 2.4m. Parts of the Japanese coastline dr[[ed by 60cm. The seabed close to the focus of the earthquake rose by 7m and moved westwards between 40-50m. In addition to this, the earthquake shifted the Earth 10-15cm on its axis.

The earthquake triggered a tsunami which reached heights of 40m when it reached the coast. The tsunami wave reached 10km inland in some places.

What were the social impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

The tsunami in 2011 claimed the lives of 15,853 people and injured 6023. The majority of the victims were over the age of 60 (66%). 90% of the deaths was caused by drowning. The remaining 10% died as the result of being crushed in buildings or being burnt. 3282 people were reported missing, presumed dead.

Disposing of dead bodies proved to be very challenging because of the destruction to crematoriums, morgues and the power infrastructure. As the result of this many bodies were buried in mass graves to reduce the risk of disease spreading.

Many people were displaced as the result of the tsunami. According to Save the Children 100,000 children were separated from their families. The main reason for this was that children were at school when the earthquake struck. In one elementary school, 74 of 108 students and 10 out of 13 staff lost their lives.

More than 333000 people had to live in temporary accommodation. National Police Agency of Japan figures shows almost 300,000 buildings were destroyed and a further one million damaged, either by the quake, tsunami or resulting fires. Almost 4,000 roads, 78 bridges and 29 railways were also affected. Reconstruction is still taking place today. Some communities have had to be relocated from their original settlements.

What were the economic impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

The estimated cost of the earthquake, including reconstruction, is £181 billion. Japanese authorities estimate 25 million tonnes of debris were generated in the three worst-affected prefectures (counties). This is significantly more than the amount of debris created during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. 47,700 buildings were destroyed and 143,300 were damaged. 230,000 vehicles were destroyed or damaged. Four ports were destroyed and a further 11 were affected in the northeast of Japan.

There was a significant impact on power supplies in Japan. 4.4 million households and businesses lost electricity. 11 nuclear reactors were shut down when the earthquake occurred. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was decommissioned because all six of its reactors were severely damaged. Seawater disabled the plant’s cooling systems which caused the reactor cores to meltdown, leading to the release of radioactivity. Radioactive material continues to be released by the plant and vegetation and soil within the 30km evacuation zone is contaminated. Power cuts continued for several weeks after the earthquake and tsunami. Often, these lasted between 3-4 hours at a time. The earthquake also had a negative impact on the oil industry as two refineries were set on fire during the earthquake.

Transport was also negatively affected by the earthquake. Twenty-three train stations were swept away and others experienced damage. Many road bridges were damaged or destroyed.

Agriculture was affected as salt water contaminated soil and made it impossible to grow crops.

The stock market crashed and had a negative impact on companies such as Sony and Toyota as the cost of the earthquake was realised.  Production was reduced due to power cuts and assembly of goods, such as cars overseas, were affected by the disruption in the supply of parts from Japan.

What were the political impacts of the Japanese earthquake in 2011?

Government debt was increased when it injects billions of yen into the economy. This was at a time when the government were attempting to reduce the national debt.

Several years before the disaster warnings had been made about the poor defences that existed at nuclear power plants in the event of a tsunami. A number of executives at the Fukushima power plant resigned in the aftermath of the disaster. A movement against nuclear power, which Japan heavily relies on, developed following the tsunami.

The disaster at Fukushima added political weight in European countries were anti-nuclear bodies used the event to reinforce their arguments against nuclear power.

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Case Study – The 2011 Japan Earthquake

Cambridge iGCSE Geography > The Natural Environment > Earthquakes and Volcanoes > Case Study – The 2011 Japan Earthquake

Background Information

Location : The earthquake struck 250 miles off the northeastern coast of Japan’s Honshu Island at 2:46 pm (local time) on March 11, 2011.

Japan 2011 Earthquake map

Magnitude : It measured 9.1 on the Moment Magnitude scale, making it one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.

Japan is a highly developed country with advanced infrastructure, technology, and a robust economy. The nation has a high GDP, an efficient healthcare system, and extensive education. However, it’s also located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes.

What caused the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Japan is located on the eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate. The Eurasian plate, which is continental, is subducted by the Pacific Plate, an oceanic plate forming a subduction zone to the east of Japan. This type of plate margin is known as a destructive plate margin . The process of subduction is not smooth. Friction causes the Pacific Plate to stick. Pressure builds and is released as an earthquake.

Friction has built up over time, and when released, this caused a massive ‘megathrust’ earthquake. The enormous tension released as the plates shifted caused the seafloor to uplift, triggering the earthquake and subsequent tsunami .

The amount of energy released in this single earthquake was 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

Scientists drilled into the subduction zone soon after the earthquake and discovered a thin, slippery clay layer lining the fault. The researchers think this clay layer allowed the two plates to slide an incredible distance, some 164 feet (50 metres), facilitating the enormous earthquake and tsunami.

The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 20 miles below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This, combined with the high magnitude, caused a tsunami (find out more about  how a tsunami is formed  on the BBC website).

What were the primary effects of the 2011 Japan earthquake?

• Ground Shaking : Extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
• Landfall: Some coastal areas experienced land subsidence as the earthquake dropped the beachfront in some places by more than 50 cm.

What were the secondary effects of the 2011 Japan earthquake?

• Tsunami : A giant tsunami wave resulted in widespread destruction along the coast.
• Fatalities : Around 16,000 deaths were reported, mainly resulting from the tsunami.
• Injuries : 26,152 were injured, mainly as a result of the tsunami.
• Nuclear Crisis : The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged, leading to radiation leaks.
• Economic Loss : Estimated at over $235 billion.
• Displacement : Around 340,000 people were displaced from their homes.
• Damage: The tsunami destroyed or damaged 332,395 buildings, 2,126 roads, 56 bridges, and 26 railways. Three hundred hospitals were damaged, and 11 were destroyed.
• Environmental Damage : Coastal ecosystems were heavily impacted.
• Blackouts: Over 4.4 million households were left without electricity in North-East Japan.
• Transport: Rural areas remained isolated for a long time because the tsunami destroyed major roads and local trains and buses. Sections of the Tohoku Expressway were damaged. Railway lines were damaged, and some trains were derailed.

What were the immediate responses to the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Tsunami Warnings and Prediction :

• The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings three minutes after the earthquake.
• Scientists predicted where the tsunami would hit using modelling and forecasting technology.

Search and Rescue Operations:

• Rescue workers and 100,000 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force were dispatched within hours.
• Some individuals were rescued from beneath rubble with the aid of sniffer dogs.

Radiation Protection Measures:

• The government declared a 20 km evacuation zone around the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
• Evacuees from the area around the nuclear power plant were given iodine tablets to reduce radiation poisoning risk.

International Assistance:

• Japan received help from the US military.
• Search and rescue teams from New Zealand, India, South Korea, China, and Australia were sent.

Access and Evacuation:

• Access was restricted to affected areas due to debris and mud, complicating immediate support.
• Hundreds of thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters or relocated.

Health Monitoring :

• Those near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown had radiation levels checked and their health monitored.
• Measures were taken to ensure individuals did not receive dangerous exposure to radiation.

What were the long-term responses to the 2011 Japan earthquake?

Reconstruction Policy and Budget:

• Establishment of the Reconstruction Policy Council in April 2011.
• Approval of a budget of 23 trillion yen (£190 billion) for recovery over ten years.
• Creation of ‘Special Zones for Reconstruction’ to attract investment in the Tohoku region.

Coastal Protection Measures:

• Implementing coastal protection policies like seawalls and breakwaters designed for a 150-year recurrence interval of tsunamis.

Legislation for Tsunami-Resilient Communities:

• Enactment of the ‘Act on the Development of Tsunami-resilient Communities’ in December 2011.
• Emphasis on human life, combining infrastructure development with measures for the largest class tsunami.

Economic Challenges and Recovery:

• Japan’s economy wiped 5–10% off the value of stock markets post-earthquake.
• Long-term response priority: rebuild infrastructure, restore and improve the economy’s health.

Transportation and Infrastructure Repair:

• Repair and reopening of 375 km of the Tohoku Expressway by the 24th of March 2011.
• Restoration of the runway at Sendai Airport by the 29th of March, a joint effort by the Japanese Defence Force and the US Army.

Utility Reconstruction:

• Energy, water supply, and telecommunications infrastructure reconstruction.
• As of November 2011: 96% of electricity, 98% of water, and 99% of the landline network had been restored.

How does Japan prepare for earthquakes, and what was its impact?

Japan has a comprehensive earthquake preparedness program, including:

• Strict Building Codes : Buildings are constructed to withstand seismic activity.
• Early Warning Systems : Advanced technology provides early warnings to citizens.
• Education and Drills : Regular earthquake drills in schools, offices, and public places.

Impact of the 2011 Earthquake

The extensive preparation in Japan likely saved lives and reduced damage during the 2011 earthquake. However, the unprecedented magnitude of the event still led to significant destruction, particularly with the tsunami and nuclear crisis.

The 2011 Japan earthquake illustrates the complexity of managing natural disasters in even the most developed and prepared nations. The event prompted further refinements in disaster preparedness and response in Japan and globally, highlighting the need for continuous assessment and adaptation to seismic risks.

The 2011 earthquake occurred off Japan’s Honshu Island, measuring 9.1 on the Moment Magnitude scale, one of the strongest ever recorded.

Triggered by a ‘megathrust’ in a destructive plate margin, the Pacific Plate subducted the Eurasian Plate, releasing energy equivalent to 600 million Hiroshima bombs.

Primary effects included extensive ground shaking and significant land subsidence in coastal areas.

Secondary effects included a massive tsunami, around 16,000 deaths, 26,152 injuries, a nuclear crisis at Fukushima, over $235 billion in economic loss, displacement of 340,000 people, and widespread damage to infrastructure and the environment.

Immediate responses included rapid tsunami warnings, extensive search and rescue operations, radiation protection measures, international assistance, and evacuation strategies.

Long-term responses focused on reconstruction policies, coastal protection, tsunami-resilient community development, economic recovery, and transportation and utility restoration.

Japan’s extensive earthquake preparedness, including strict building codes and early warning systems, likely reduced damage, but the magnitude still caused significant destruction.

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