The Difference Between The Tectonic Events Of Eyjafallajokull And Mount Merapi Figure 1: Eyjafallajokull Figure 2: Mount MerapiTable of ContentsIntroduction 3Tectonic Plate Theory 3Plate Boundaries in Iceland and Indonesia 3The Geological Events 3The Claim and Research Question 3Analysis 4The Occurrence of Both Events 4Trends/ Patterns Seen With Each Event 4Human, Economic and Geological Impacts Of Both Events 5Similarities and Differences Between the 2 Geological Events 5Conclusion 6References 7IntroductionPlate Tectonic TheoryPlate tectonics is a theory which suggests that Earths 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 Earths core rises and colder mantle rock sinks. (Lynn S. Fichter, 2000) The movement and interaction of crustal plates in the Earths lithosphere results in geological events such as volcanism, continental drift, seafloor spreading, and mountain building.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 IndonesiaThe 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 QuestionThe 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?AnalysisThe Occurrence of Both EventsThe 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 PlatesTrends/ Patterns Seen With Each EventEach 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 MerapiHuman, 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 Merapis EruptionSimilarities and Differences Between the 2 Geological EventsThere 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 InformationIcelandic EventIndonesia Volcanic EventLocationEyjafallajokull, IcelandMount Merapi in Central Java, IndonesiaDate14 April 2010October 26 November 30, 2010Death Toll0353Damage CostAirlines: The US $1.7 billionImport and export: over $3.8 million per dayDeath of livestock and damage to tourism, manufacturing and agricultural sectors: $600 millionMagnitude (earthquake only)Maximum 3.1Maximum 7.7Location of EpicentreBeneath Eyjafallajokull ice capLength of Volcanic Eruption6 days36 daysVolcanic Explosiveness Index44Cause of eruption/earthquakeThe 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 presentDivergent Plate BoundariesIndo Australian PlateEurasian PlateOther resulting effectsFloodingExtensive environmental degradationFigure 10: Table of Icelandic Event and Indonesian Volcanic EventConclusionHence, 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.ReferencesBBC. (2014). Geography of Europe. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/geography/places/europe/revision/8/BBC Bitesize. (2017, July 14). Volcanoes. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zww4nbk/revision/6boston.com. (2010, November 8). Mount Merapis Eruption. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from boston.com: http://archive.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/mount_merapis_eruptions.htmlExpress. (2018, June 2). Indonesian volcano eruption: WATCH Merapi fire ash 6km HIGH amid Pacific Ring of Fire fears. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from Express: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/968475/Indonesia-Mount-Merapi-eruption-volcano-Ring-of-FireGeography Blogspot. (2010, October). Mount Merapi Case Study. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from Geography Blogspot: http://gcsegeographyhelp.blogspot.com/2016/05/mount-merapi-october-2010-case-study.htmlGlobal Volcanism Program. (2011, February). Report On Mount Merapi (Indonesia). Retrieved November 11, 2018, from Smithsonian Institution: http://volcano.si.edu/showreport.cfm?doi=10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201102-263250Lynn S. Fichter. (2000, September 13). Synopsis Of Plate Tectonic Theory. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from csmgeo.csm.jmu.edu: http://csmgeo.csm.jmu.edu/geollab/vageol/vahist/plates.htmlNational Geographic. (2010, October 28). Mount Merapi Erupts. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from National Geographic: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/photogalleries/101026-indonesia-mount-merapi-volcano-eruption-world-science-pictures-photos/News BBC. (2014, June). Mount Merapi. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from News BBC: News.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8634944.stmPrezi. (2013, April). Mount Merapi. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from Prezi: https://prezi.com/1qzxxqtxdldo/mount-merapi/South China Morning Post. (n.d.). Mount Merapi eruption 2018: people ordered to stay away as Indonesias most active volcano rumbles. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2147226/people-ordered-stay-way-indonesias-most-active-volcanoWeebly. (2017, April). Plate Tectonics In Indonesia. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from tectonicplatesindonesia.weebly.com: https://tectonicplatesindonesia.weebly.com/causes.htmlWeebly. (2018, March). Mt Merapi Indonesia. Retrieved November 11, 2018, from Weebly: https://hazardsoftectonis.weebly.com/mt-merapi-indonesia-ledc-2010-picturesdiagrams.htmlWorld Atlas. (2018, August 18). How many tectonic plates are there? Retrieved November 18, 2018, from World Atlas: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-tectonic-plates-on-earth.html
