Systemic risks perspectives of Eyjafjallajökull volcano's 2010 eruption

Ilan Kelman; David Alexander; Carina Fearnley; Susanna Jenkins; Peter Sammonds

Progress in Disaster Science (Apr 2023)

Systemic risks perspectives of Eyjafjallajökull volcano's 2010 eruption

Ilan Kelman,
David Alexander,
Carina Fearnley,
Susanna Jenkins,
Peter Sammonds

Affiliations

Ilan Kelman: Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction / Institute for Global Health, University College London, UK and University of Agder, Norway; Corresponding author at: IRDR, Wilkins Building - South Wing, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
David Alexander: Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, UK
Carina Fearnley: Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction / Institute for Global Health, University College London, UK and University of Agder, Norway; Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, UK; Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, UK; Earth Observatory of Singapore, Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Susanna Jenkins: Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction / Institute for Global Health, University College London, UK and University of Agder, Norway; Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, UK; Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, UK; Earth Observatory of Singapore, Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Peter Sammonds: Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London, UK

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18
p. 100282

Abstract

Read online

In 2010, southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, releasing ash that spread across Europe. Due to its potential to damage aircraft, much of European airspace was closed for six days. Known problems were brought to the forefront regarding the anticipation of and response to systemic risks. To contribute a deeper understanding of this situation, this paper explores this disaster through its fundamental causes and cascading impacts, highlighting perspectives from disaster risk reduction, complexity sciences, and health in order to support analysis and resolution of systemic risks. Two principal future directions emerge from this work. First, how to manage dependency on air travel. Second, how to think about and act to avert future calamities.

Published in Progress in Disaster Science

ISSN: 2590-0617 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences; Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/progress-in-disaster-science/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords