‘Riskscapes’ as a heuristic tool for understanding environmental risks: the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash cloud of April 2010

This article looks at the 2010 ash cloud event associated with eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland through the lens of the actor network theory. Using this theory the shifting assignment of responsibility for the impact of the ash cloud can be traced among the various actors involved in the network focus on UK airspace. Mapping the relations between actors, in terms of their nature and strength and how these change as the event unfolded can help to analyse the changing power relations and activation of relations to align the network. Understanding the activation of such links under the stress of an extreme environmental event and the network alignment it precipitates could have important implications for managing environmental risks