The Difference Between The Tectonic Events Of Eyjafallajokull And Mount Merapi

  Figure 1: Eyjafallajokull                                          Figure 2: Mount Merapi

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Tectonic Plate Theory 3

Plate Boundaries in Iceland and Indonesia 3

The Geological Events 3

The Claim and Research Question 3

Analysis 4

The Occurrence of Both Events 4

Trends/ Patterns Seen With Each Event 4

Human, Economic and Geological Impacts Of Both Events 5

Similarities and Differences Between the 2 Geological Events 5

Conclusion 6

References 7

Introduction

Plate Tectonic Theory

Plate tectonics is a theory which suggests that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates which hover over the mantle, the stony inner layer above the core. The reason for plate tectonics moving is due to the convection in the mantle, where hot material near the Earth’s core rises and colder mantle rock sinks. (Lynn S. Fichter, 2000) The movement and interaction of crustal plates in the Earth’s lithosphere results in geological events such as volcanism, continental drift, seafloor spreading, and mountain building.

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Plate Boundaries In Iceland And Indonesia                                                                                                                                     According to Figure 3, Iceland emerged as a result of the divergent and spreading at this boundary which is situated between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plate. (BBC, 2014) As shown in Figure 4, Indonesia is located between two continental plates: the Eurasian Plate and the Australian Plate and between two oceanic plates: the Philippine Sea Plate and Pacific Plate. (Weebly, 2017)

Figure 3: Iceland Mid-Atlantic Ridge Map     Figure 4: Plate Tectonics Of Indonesia

The Geological Events                                                                                                                       

Between the divergent plate boundaries, a significant volcanic event occurred at the boundary in Iceland, at Eyjafallajokull, in 14th April, 2010. The volcanic event to be compared for this essay is a volcanic eruption from Mount Merapi. It is located in Central Java, Indonesia, at the Indo Australian and the Eurasian plate, and the eruption occurred from October 26 to November 30, 2010.

The Claim and Research Question

The claim to be investigated by this essay is the fact that all volcanic events or earthquakes have the same devastating effect and cause as the 2010 Eyjafallajokull volcanic and earthquake events.  Based on this claim, the research inquiry to be reviewed by this investigation is: Did the volcanic events from Mount Merapi and Eyjafallajokull in 2010 both produce the same devastating effects and causes?

Analysis

The Occurrence of Both Events

The devastating catastrophes befell due to the fact that both volcanoes are located in profoundly active zones, as depicted in Figure 6. The volcano of Mount Merapi in Indonesia discovered on a destructive plate margin at a subduction zone is more prone to volcanic occurrences and earthquakes, since it is part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. As shown in Figure 5, the Indo Australian plate being subducted below the Eurasian plate generates immense pressure and heat from friction within the plates. (Global Volcanism Program, 2011) This rendered parts of the Indo Australian plate into magma, leading to an explosive eruption. The Eyjafallajokull eruption, located in the Eastern Volcanic Zone in Iceland, occurred due to the magma chamber forming and remaining broad and near the surface. The surging magma caused ruptures and rifts in the overlying rocks, inducing earthquakes. (BBC Bitesize, 2017)       

Figure 5: Diagram of Mt Merapi, Indonesia            Figure 6: Map Of Tectonic Plates

Trends/ Patterns Seen With Each Event

Each geological case had unique trends and patterns. For instance, the Eyjafallajokull event aftereffect led the volcanic ash to be widely spread, intoxicating the nearby surroundings. As shown in Figure 7, the volcanic ash plume is drifting southwards of Iceland. However, the Mount Merapi volcano had an abrupt explosion propelling volcanic ash 6km into the atmosphere. (Express, 2018) Both eruptions resulted in volcanic ash plume, which further disproves the research question that both eruptions produce the same devastating effects and causes, as one eruption caused zero casualties whereas the Mount Merapi caused 353 deaths. Prior to both eruptions, it is apparent that seismic activity frequented, for a sustained duration of time.     

Figure 7: Volcanic Ash Plume From Eyjafallajokull Eruption     Figure 8: Volcanic Ash Explosion Of Mt Merapi

Human, Economic and Geological Impacts of Both Events                                                                                                    The aftermath of both events had considerably impacted on humans, economically and geologically. The disastrous eruption from Eyjafallajokull resulted in the airline industry to economically suffer as a direct casualty, due to heavy ash fall. Referring to Figure 10, it can be established that the airline industry lost $1.7 billion. Furthermore the import and export business expended over $3.8 billion per day, due to the shutdown of transportation. Various stretches of agricultural land were demolished due to unforeseen flooding and heavy ash fall. (Prezi, 2013) The Mount Merapi crisis had economically induced $600 million, due to the death of livestock, damage to tourism, manufacturing and agricultural sectors. (BBC Bitesize, 2017) Geologically, as shown in Figure 9, extensive environmental degradation took place, as settlements and hundreds of hectares of farmlands were buried under volcanic ash.

Figure  9: Aftermath of Mt Merapi’s Eruption

Similarities and Differences Between the 2 Geological Events

There are numerous similarities and differences between the two geological events. According to the table, it can be determined that both tectonic events of Eyjafallajokull and Mount Merapi occurred during the same year, 2010, and had the same volcanic explosiveness index of 4. A difference separating the pair of geological events is the duration of the eruption. There is a drastic variation between an initial period of 6 days with the Eyjafallajokull event and 36 days of the Mount Merapi event. An additional difference is the death toll of each event, as the Icelandic event reported zero casualties, however, the Indonesian event recorded 353 deaths.

Type of Information

Icelandic Event

Indonesia Volcanic Event

Location

Eyjafallajokull, Iceland

Mount Merapi in Central Java, Indonesia

Date

14 April 2010

October 26 – November 30, 2010

Death Toll

0

353

Damage Cost

Airlines: The US $1.7 billion

Import and export: over $3.8 million per day

Death of livestock and damage to tourism, manufacturing and agricultural sectors: $600 million

Magnitude (earthquake only)

Maximum 3.1

Maximum 7.7

Location of Epicentre

Beneath Eyjafallajokull ice cap

Length of Volcanic Eruption

6 days

36 days

Volcanic Explosiveness Index

4

4

Cause of eruption/earthquake

The magma chamber was broad and near the surface/ Rising magma caused fractures and breaks into the overlying rocks causing earthquakes.

The Indo Australian plate being subducted beneath the Eurasian plate caused great pressure between the plates which melted the Indo Australian plate to form magma. The magma was lighter than its surrounding.

Tectonic boundaries present

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Indo Australian Plate

Eurasian Plate

Other resulting effects

Flooding

Extensive environmental degradation

Figure 10: Table of Icelandic Event and Indonesian Volcanic Event

Conclusion

Hence, Mount Merapi and Eyjafallajokull did not produce the same devastating effects and causes from volcanic events, as it has be determined through an analysis of the location, cause of eruption, and tectonic boundaries present. Both volcanoes are situated on points of tectonic boundaries that can seemingly lead to a gradual eruption.  Compare effects of the volcanoes (table) some caused more geological environment destruction, some caused more deaths, econimcs. This was caused by this, explain the difference, caused by different things (how it erupted)Therefore, it is clear that both of the disastrous volcanic events in 2010 did not have the same devastating effect and causes.

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