volcano case study bbc bitesize

• Age: 14-16 MYP Individuals and Societies
• Age: 14-16 GCSE / IGCSE Geography
• Natural Environments
• Economic Development
• IGCSE Geography Revision Question Bank
• 2.1 Earthquakes and volcanoes
• 2.4 Weather
• 2.5 Climate and natural vegetation
• Distribution
• Plate Tectonics
• Plate Boundaries | Plate Margins

Volcano case study - Mount Etna (2002-2003), Italy

• Volcano case study - Mount Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Volcanic hazard management - Mount Rainier, USA
• Earthquakes
• Earthquake case study - 2005 Kashmir
• Earthquake case study - Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake - 2007
• Why was the Haitian Earthquake so deadly?
• Earthquakes - Managing the hazard

Can you describe the location of Mount Etna? Could you draw a sketch map to locate Mount Etna?

Case study task

Use the resources and links that can be found on this page to produce a detailed case study of the 2002-2003 eruption of Mount Etna. You should use the 'Five W's" subheadings to give your case study structure.

What happened?

The Guardian - Sicilian city blanketed in ash [28 October 2002]

When did it happen?

Immediately before midnight on 26 October 2002 (local time=GMT+1), a new flank eruption began on Mount Etna. The eruption ended after three months and two days, on 28 January 2003.

Where did it happen?

The eruption occurred from fissures on two sides of the volcano: at about 2750 m on the southern flank and at elevations between 2500 and 1850 m on the northeastern flank.

Why did it happen?

Mount Etna is a volcano. The reasons why Mount Etna is located where it is are complex. Here are some of the theories:

• One theory envisages a hot spot or mantle-plume origin for this volcano, like those that produce the volcanoes in Hawaii.
• Another theory involves the subduction of the African plate under the Eurasian plate.
• Another group of scientists believes that rifting along the eastern coast of Sicily allows the uprise of magma.

Who was affected by it happening?

• The Italian Government declared a state of emergency in parts of Sicily, after a series of earthquakes accompanying the eruption of forced about 1,000 people flee their homes.
• A ship equipped with a medical clinic aboard was positioned off Catania - to the south of the volcano - to be ready in case of emergency.
• Emergency workers dug channels in the earth in an attempt to divert the northern flow away from the town of Linguaglossa.
• Schools in the town have been shut down, although the church has remained open for people to pray.
• Villagers also continued their tradition of parading their patron saint through the streets to the railway station, to try to ward off the lava flow.
• Civil protection officials in Catania, Sicily's second-biggest city, which sits in the shadow of Etna, surveyed the mountain by helicopter and were ready to send water-carrying planes into the skies to fight the fires.
• The tourist complex and skiing areas of Piano Provenzana were nearly completely devastated by the lava flows that issued from the NE Rift vents on the first day of the eruption.
• Heavy tephra falls caused by the activity on the southern flank occurred mostly in areas to the south of the volcano and nearly paralyzed public life in Catania and nearby towns.
• For more than two weeks the International Airport of Catania, Fontanarossa, had to be closed due to ash on the runways.
• Strong seismicity and ground deformation accompanied the eruption; a particularly strong shock (magnitude 4.4) on 29 October destroyed and damaged numerous buildings on the lower southeastern flank, in the area of Santa Venerina.
• Lava flows from the southern flank vents seriously threatened the tourist facilities around the Rifugio Sapienza between 23 and 25 November, and a few days later destroyed a section of forest on the southwestern flank.
• The eruption brought a heightened awareness of volcanic and seismic hazards to the Sicilian public, especially because it occurred only one year and three months after the previous eruption that was strongly featured in the information media.

Look at this video clip from an eruption on Mount Etna in November 2007.  What sort of eruption is it?

There is no commentary on the video - could you add your own explaining what is happening and why?

You should be able to use the knowledge and understanding you have gained about 2002-2003 eruption of Mount Etna to answer the following exam-style question:

In many parts of the world, the natural environment presents hazards to people. Choose an example of one of the following: a volcanic eruption, an earthquake, or a drought. For a named area, describe the causes of the example which you have chosen and its impacts on the people living there. [7 marks]

• Comment on Twitter

Become a member and discover where geography can take you.

• Resources for ...
• Mount Etna eru...

Mount Etna erupts

What happened in February 2021?

Mount Etna on the island of Sicily erupted for the first time this year. It has largely been dominant for the past 2 years with the last major eruption in 1992. Mount Etna is one of only 1,500 active volcanoes around the world. Italy is the only country on mainland Europe with active volcanism. Mount Etna is Europe’s highest and most active volcano.  

The lava type erupting out of Mount Etna is viscous and sticky, therefore it is slow moving. As a result, Etna has killed no more than 77 people in the last 2,700 years due to the lava speed and nature of the eruptions. However, it is still dangerously close to the local population.

Etna is a stratovolcano with strombolian eruptions. A stratovolcano is otherwise known as a composite volcano and can be very dangerous. BBC Bitesize give an excellent explanation (with diagram) of such a volcano and the USGS give a good short definition in their glossary pages .

The eruption

On Tuesday 16 February, Mount Etna erupted sending lava and ‘orange smoke’ several hundred metres into the air. Flights into and out of Catania have been suspended as the surrounding airspace has filled with volcanic ash. Nearby villages on the slopes of the volcano have also been covered in falling ash with 3 town in particular being monitored closely by the emergency authorities: Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo, all highlighted below.

Mount Etna as seen from Catania, Europe’s most active volcano © Guardian photograph: David Anastasi 

Volcano Discovery reported that the ‘paroxysm’ foundation eruption on Tuesday begin to erupt from a new SE crater, at around 11pm local time. By 1am on Tuesday night the eruption had reached its peak with tall lava fountains shooting up 500 metres into the night sky.

Lava flows have been reported heading both eastwards into the Valle del Bove (see map), towards Milo and Fornazzo, and south into the Torre del Filosofo.

Why are there so many settlements around Mount Etna?

There are several reasons why people choose to live near tectonic hazards, such as volcanoes. Mount Etna is a perfect example of why people are attracted to such dangerous areas. Increased monitoring of volcanoes and earthquakes enables people to remain near volcanoes, a lack of alternative options limited by family or poverty or no perceived risk are often cited as reasons for proximity to hazards. In the case of Mount Etna, the chief reason is fertile soils.

More than 20% of Sicilians live on the slopes of Mount Etna because of the volcanic fertile soils. In fact, the land around the volcano is extremely fertile — perfect for growing vegetables, citrus fruits, and grapes (for wine). Recent temperature rises have even allowed famers to grow papaya, normally associated with tropical climates. Some suggest up to three-quarters of Sicily’s crops are grown in the immediate vicinity of the volcano.

Further reading

Eruption footage, thick ash clouds Mount Etna: Ash clouds as Sicilian volcano erupts - BBC News

Mount Etna erupts in spectacular fashion — high lava fountains and incandescent magma

How does it feel to live in Etna’s shadow? Volcano: How does it feel to live in Etna’s shadow? - BBC News

Active volcanoes How many active volcanoes are there on Earth? (usgs.gov)

Aerial footage above nearby towns

In pictures

Human responses to the eruption of Etna (Sicily) during the late pre-industrial era

Volcano Discovery

When life gives you lemons — Sicily’s farmers go tropical

File name Files

Mount Etna erupts (1)

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai 2022 volcanic eruption

In January 2022 the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted in the Pacific Ocean

Volcanoes and volcanology

Sarah Henton, graduate student, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Hazards and Volcanic Gas Emissions

How do geographers research volcanoes? Dr Tom Pering explains in this podcast

Back To Top

• 0 Shopping Cart

Haiti Earthquake 2010

Haiti earthquake case study.

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake .

The earthquake occurred on January 12th, 2010, at 16.53 local time (21.53 GMT).

The earthquake occurred at 18.457°N, 72.533°W. The epicentre was near the town of Léogâne, Ouest department, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The earthquake’s focus was 13km (8.1 miles) below the Earth’s surface.

Haiti is situated at the northern end of the Caribbean Plate, on a transform (slip/conservative) plate boundary with the North American Plate. The North American plate is moving west. This movement is not smooth, and there is friction between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. Pressure builds between the two plates until released as an earthquake.

A map to show the location of Haiti in relation to tectonic plates. Source BBC.

The epicentre of the earthquake was 16km southwest of Port-Au-Prince. The earthquake was caused by a slip along an existing fault (Enriquillo-Plaintain Garden fault).

A map to show the location of the epicentre of the earthquake

Primary Effects

As of February 12th 2010, an estimated three million people were affected by the quake; the Haitian Government reports that between 217,000 and 230,000 people died, an estimated 300,000 were injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 were made homeless. They also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.

Secondary Effects

• Two million people were left without water and food.
• Regular power cuts occurred.
• Crime increased – looting became a problem and sexual violence escalated.
• People moved into temporary shelters.
• By November 2010 there were outbreaks of cholera.

Immediate Responses

• Due to the port being damaged, aid was slow to arrive.
• The USA sent rescue teams and 10,000 troops.
• Bottled water and purification tablets were provided.
• 235,000 people were moved away from Port-au-Prince to less-damaged cities.
• £20 million was donated by The UK government.

Long-term Responses

• As one of the poorest countries on Earth, Haiti relied on overseas aid.
• Although the response was slow, new homes were built to a higher standard. Over one million people still lived in temporary shelters one year after the earthquake.
• The port needed rebuilding, which required a large amount of investment.

So, why did so many people die in the Haiti earthquake? There are several reasons for this:

• The earthquake occurred at shallow depth – this means that the seismic waves must travel a smaller distance through the Earth to reach the surface to maintain more energy.
• The earthquake struck the most densely populated area of the country.
• Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
• The buildings in Port-Au-Prince and other areas of Haiti were generally in poor condition and were not designed or constructed to be earthquake-resistant.
• Three million people live in Port au Prince; most live in slum conditions after rapid urbanisation.
• Haiti only has one airport with one runway. The control tower was severely damaged in the earthquake. The port is also unusable due to damage.
• Initially, aid had been piling up at the airport due to a lack of trucks and people to distribute it. Water and food have taken days to arrive, and there is not enough to go around.
• Rescue teams from around the world took up to 48 hours to arrive in Haiti due to the problems at the airport. As a result, local people have had to use their bare hands to try and dig people out of the rubble.
• There has been a severe shortage of doctors, and many people have died of injuries like broken limbs.

 The BBC News website has a comprehensive overview of the earthquake here . In addition, the BBC has produced an excellent article titled Why so many people died in the Haiti earthquake? and provides comparative data with similar earthquakes.

Premium Resources

Please support internet geography.

If you've found the resources on this page useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site. The site is self-funded and your support is really appreciated.

Related Topics

Use the images below to explore related GeoTopics.

Previous Topic Page

Topic home, next topic page, share this:.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

If you've found the resources on this site useful please consider making a secure donation via PayPal to support the development of the site. The site is self-funded and your support is really appreciated.

Search Internet Geography

Top posts and pages.

Latest Blog Entries

Pin It on Pinterest

• Click to share
• Print Friendly

Progressive delivery is highly recommended for your order. This additional service allows tracking the writing process of big orders as the paper will be sent to you for approval in parts/drafts* before the final deadline.

What is more, it guarantees:

• 30 days of free revision;
• A top writer and the best editor;
• A personal order manager.

* You can read more about this service here or please contact our Support team for more details.

It is a special offer that now costs only +15% to your order sum!

Would you like to order Progressive delivery for your paper?

Finished Papers

John N. Williams

Customer Reviews

Orders of are accepted for more complex assignment types only (e.g. Dissertation, Thesis, Term paper, etc.). Special conditions are applied to such orders. That is why please kindly choose a proper type of your assignment.

Looking for something more advanced and urgent? Then opt-in for an advanced essay writer who’ll bring in more depth to your research and be able to fulfill the task within a limited period of time. In college, there are always assignments that are a bit more complicated and time-taking, even when it’s a common essay. Also, in search for an above-average essay writing quality, more means better, whereas content brought by a native English speaker is always a smarter choice. So, if your budget affords, go for one of the top 30 writers on our platform. The writing quality and finesse won’t disappoint you!

Premium essay writers

Essay writing help from a premium expert is something everyone has to try! It won’t be cheap but money isn’t the reason why students in the U.S. seek the services of premium writers. The main reason is that the writing quality premium writers produce is figuratively out of this world. An admission essay, for example, from a premium writer will definitely get you into any college despite the toughness of the competition. Coursework, for example, written by premium essay writers will help you secure a positive course grade and foster your GPA.

Finished Papers

Our Team of Professional Essay Writers

As we are an honest and well-paying essay writer service, writers come flying our way. Nonetheless, in the writers' community, we are known for our strict selection process. You as a client can be sure that you will be working with the best paper writer in the game no matter your subject or the difficulty of the task as all our writers go through testing and have their degrees checked. Only 3% of all applicants are accepted to work with us and even these 3% have a training program and a two-month trial period ahead. We value our reputation and only hire true experts with years of experience in academic writing behind their backs. Nonetheless, being a professional writers service has its challenges. For example, as our employer expectations are high, not all writers can handle the challenge of creating zero-plagiarism essay writing content in a short time frame, so as leading writing services we must keep everything in control.

Customer Reviews

Our Top Proficient Writers At Your Essays Service

Compare Properties

When you write an essay for me, how can I use it?

Ask the experts to write an essay for me.

Our writers will be by your side throughout the entire process of essay writing. After you have made the payment, the essay writer for me will take over ‘my assignment’ and start working on it, with commitment. We assure you to deliver the order before the deadline, without compromising on any facet of your draft. You can easily ask us for free revisions, in case you want to add up some information. The assurance that we provide you is genuine and thus get your original draft done competently.

Finished Papers

We value every paper writer working for us, therefore we ask our clients to put funds on their balance as proof of having payment capability. Would be a pity for our writers not to get fair pay. We also want to reassure our clients of receiving a quality paper, thus the funds are released from your balance only when you're 100% satisfied.

Please fill the form correctly

We use cookies to make your user experience better. By staying on our website, you fully accept it. Learn more .

Finished Papers

How does this work

Can I hire someone to write essay?

Student life is associated with great stress and nervous breakdowns, so young guys and girls urgently need outside help. There are sites that take all the responsibility for themselves. You can turn to such companies for help and they will do all the work while clients relax and enjoy a carefree life.

Take the choice of such sites very seriously, because now you can meet scammers and low-skilled workers.

On our website, polite managers will advise you on all the details of cooperation and sign an agreement so that you are confident in the agency. In this case, the user is the boss who hires the employee to delegate responsibilities and devote themselves to more important tasks. You can correct the work of the writer at all stages, observe that all special wishes are implemented and give advice. You pay for the work only if you liked the essay and passed the plagiarism check.

We will be happy to help you complete a task of any complexity and volume, we will listen to special requirements and make sure that you will be the best student in your group.

We do not tolerate any form of plagiarism and use modern software to detect any form of it

Getting an essay writing help in less than 60 seconds

Testimonials

Finished Papers

Essay writing help has this amazing ability to save a student’s evening. For example, instead of sitting at home or in a college library the whole evening through, you can buy an essay instead, which takes less than one minute, and save an evening or more. A top grade for homework will come as a pleasant bonus! Here’s what you have to do to have a new 100% custom essay written for you by an expert.

To get the online essay writing service, you have to first provide us with the details regarding your research paper. So visit the order form and tell us a paper type, academic level, subject, topic, number and names of sources, as well as the deadline. Also, don’t forget to select additional services designed to improve your online customer experience with our essay platform.

Once all the form fields are filled, submit the order form that will redirect you to a secure checkout page. See if all the order details were entered correctly and make a payment. Just as payment is through, your mission is complete. The rest is on us!

Enjoy your time, while an online essay writer will be doing your homework. When the deadline comes, you’ll get a notification that your order is complete. Log in to your Customer Area on our site and download the file with your essay. Simply enter your name on the title page on any text editor and you’re good to hand it in. If you need revisions, activate a free 14-30-day revision period. We’ll revise the work and do our best to meet your requirements this time.

Finished Papers