Volcanic eruption thread

[Niamh]

So it looks like this is going to go on for a bit...
Add you thoughts etc about the eruption in Iceland to this thread.

A lot of the news seem to be just focusing on the fact that most of Europes airports are at a stand still, but very few are actually looking at the issue in Iceland. (other than the fact that most of the Island is find ash wise and the airport is still open!)
From rummaging around the web reading news articles while in work (seeing as there wasnt much else to do with little or no flights going out and very few customers... other than explain plate techtonics to a few staff who were worrying that 2012 might really be true :rolleyes: ) and there is fear that another volcano is going to erupt. Aparently since this one started a month ago, Grimsvotn, another volcano on the Island, is at a similar stage to what it was before it erupted in 2004. Also there is another volcano that since the first settlement in Iceland, has erupted roughly ever ten years and its been nine years since the last time. Geophyicists and volcanologiest are worrying that the Eyjafjallajokull eruption might trigger it too.
But thats not all. Apparently when this volcano last erupted, it lasted for 18 months, but every time it has erupted it has preceeded the biggest volcano on the Island erupting. there is no movement coming from that volcano, but only time will tell.
They are saying it could disrupt European aerospace for months.
The ash is due to come back over dublin in a few hours. Funny when most of the Island is relatively ash free. :p

On another note i saw the most amazing sunset today. The sun was a roaring orange and the sky was hazy apart from one bit close to the sun which was a crystal clear curvy line in the sky almost the same colour as the sun. I wish i'd my camera. The weather said last night we could have some amazing sunsets. this was fantastic!

[Nightshade]

On another note i saw the most amazing sunset today. The sun was a roaring orange and the sky was hazy apart from one bit close to the sun which was a crystal clear curvy line in the sky almost the same colour as the sun. I wish i'd my camera. The weather said last night we could have some amazing sunsets. this was fantastic!

Oh oh I read about this after the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa from November 83 through to feb 84 Europe had magnificent red taillights.

Actually I kind of went mad researching the topic this morning. During which time I found this article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36556083/ns/us_news-environment/ re this section
Longer term, sulfur from volcanoes has the potential to cool the Earth. Sulfur reacts with water in the air to form sulfuric acid droplets that reflect sunlight hitting Earth, thus blocking some rays. The reduction in sunlight can reduce temperatures for a year or so, until the droplets fall out of the atmosphere.


Indeed, Pinatubo is known to have cooled the planet by 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some experts advocate the deliberate injection of sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere in a "geoengineering" short cut to slow global warming.
That option has become attractive for some after a U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen in December failed to produce a binding global deal to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. Others say the risks are too big — ranging from disruptions of weather patterns to acid rain.

Obviously I've watched the Core far too many times because my first though was conspiracy!

This possible cause of the volcano :p
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/04/16/1990/

Now seriously though hypothetically that is if this was the start of a chain or cycle of volcanoes ( actually thinking about it 2010 has seen alot 'felt by us' of seismic activity hasn't it?) longterm if air travel is majourlly affected over europe are we perhaps looking at a return to the trends of over land and sea travel. Also what affect does the ash have on other technology? how likley is it if it hangs around long enough to mess around with computers? and cars? and does it affect mobile phones? Are we going to be thrown back a century.
OH and I also tracked possible routes home in case the air ban isnt lifted by the middle of June.
I've even figured out semi cost effective trans atalantic travel.... :D

[Niamh]

Too much of it in the air isnt a good thing though. I remember from doing some studies in geology in college that one of the thoeries for the extinction too much volcanic activity and a continuous cloud of ash and smoke in the stratosphere poisoning the air. :rolleyes: It caused a warming of the panet and caused methane gases to release from the core that poisoned the waters. It a wonder the crocodiles survived! :D They really are a survival story!

Anyway thats millions of years ago and this is just one volcano. I think a lot of the earth activity happening at the moment (earthquakes, sunamis etc) are because the pates are shifting at a faster rate and they do this from time to time. They'll slow down eventually and all will be at peace! (hopefully) Mind you if that is the case then we should expect more activity along the ring of fire. If the plate boundary that Iceland is sitting on is pulling away, the north arlantic plate is going to crush elsewhere. My big worry is California.

[Lulim]

In Germany, all airports are closed by now, no arrivals and no departures anymore. The sky however is brilliantly blue and no trace of a cloud, ash or otherwise to be seen.

I've heard, when the volcano erupted in 1883, the cloud obstructed the daylight and spoiled the harvest because it lasted so long.

[Lokasenna]

My personal favourite thing about this eruption is the way the newsreaders have ALL avoided trying to pronounce the name of it. They always refer to "the volcano in Iceland." As someone relatively fluent in Icelandic, I find that brilliant. It would be just like if a volcano suddenly appeared in Wales...

My understanding is that they're now worried about Katla, another volcano near Eyjafjallajökull, which they fear might go up as well. Frankly, if history is any indicator, this whole scenario is likely to go on for weeks, if not months. The last time Eyjafjallajökull went off, it kept erupting intermitently for two years...

[prendrelemick]

Is it Ee-jaf-jalla-jo-kull? or are all the 'j's pronounced as 'y's?

There's been nearly as much fallout as the banking crisis!

[Annamariah]

Now that I think of it, I haven't heard any news from Ireland, but lots of angry comments from Finns whose flights have been cancelled. Suprisingly many of the people I know were going to travel somewhere right now. Facebook is suddenly sprouting groups like "SEND THOSE STUPID FOREIGN ASH CLOUDS BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM" and so on...

[Niamh]

Yeah I mentioned Katla in my OP but forgot to write the name down. This volcano always preceeds Katla erupting.
The Sky here is a brilliant blue but the horizon is a grey haze. There was some ash on cars this morning.
They have just 100% closed Dublin Airport. Another big plume of ash and debris just got thrown up into the air. Some flights got out yesterday, but they've just sent everyone home. I'm in until one because the shop in Arrivals is to stay open for the day as there will be passengers turning up.
There is rain due during the week and there is some hope that it will ground most of the ash and clear the skies.
Yeah i think peoples attitudes stink right now. all they are worrying about is there flights, but no one is worrying about the effect on the enviornment, and more importantly the effect of Iceland. coast roads are flooded and people are blocked from getting to the capital. Are you reading that in the news? no! But billy from Newcastle is outraged that he cant get his flight to Cardiff. Get the train!
I'm seeing the effect its having on the airport first hand.

[Annamariah]

Yeah. But if you want to find some irony from the situation it is that the airport guards here were supposed to go on a strike yesterday. The tabloids screamed about the mayhem to come without the guards, and then this volcano erupted and the whole airport had to be closed... The guards didn't really get their point through with this ill-timed strike, now did they? :p

[Niamh]

hehehe that is ironic! :p

[Lulim]

We had a strike coming, too, but the union just postponed it. The strike is is now planned to take place after all this confusion about the volcano is over.

[Annamariah]

We had a strike coming, too, but the union just postponed it. The strike is is now planned to take place after all this confusion about the volcano is over.

Yeah, that should work better for the union than this Finnish way... Though I'm pretty sure they're going to strike again unless they come to an agreement before long. Other guards and salespeople were on strike on Friday as planned, though, so the volcano didn't spoil the whole strike, just the airport part.

[Niamh]

I've been trying to find some decent news online about the current situation in Iceland but all i'm getting is "more havoc for Europen Airspace" etc...

[TheFifthElement]

I think it's fascinating. I feel terribly sorry for people who have had their plans disrupted or have been stuck, but on the other hand I hope this will start to reduce people's reliance on air travel in Europe. The media are reporting it as though we in Britain are stranded; on the news this morning they were starting to go on about 'how will cargo get here' and the like, which I found funny because the vast majority of cargo shipped to Britain still comes by sea or by road. And it is perfectly possible and convenient and quite fun to travel around Europe by train, so perhaps more people will think about doing that, or perhaps people will have no choice if they want to go abroad. Or perhaps people will holiday at home, which will be a real boost for the economy. It doesn't have to be bad, it could even be fun.

My only concern at this point is for people to be able to return home, and that the volcanic eruption is not responsible for any loss of life. The rest is inconvenient, but not the end of the world. And this is nature; a reminder, perhaps, that we are not as in control as we like to think. I'm not threatened by that, but then I haven't got a flight booked either :D

I would also like to know that people are okay in Iceland. Helga has been giving brief updates via her blog, but nothing in the last 24 hours. I hope she's okay.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

We have a number of people in the company trapped abroad. Some of them will probably be able to get themselves home by train, buy at least two people are trapped in the U.S. I suppose they will have to find a a boat? :biggrin5:

I found this little tale about what happened to a 747 that went slap into a cloud of volcanic ash in 1982 with the result that all four engines stopped. Pretty interesting reading (particularly the exceedingly cool PA messages to the passengers):

http://www.ericmoody.com/

/Claes

[dizzydoll]

17th April 2010

We mustnt mumble, you must admit the more airplanes grounded around the world the less pollution is pumped into the environment, so skies should be clearer cos of it. When they grounded all airplanes over USA airspace after 9/11 it was reported that the lift in pollution over US soil showed from out in space.

I dont know if youve seen this article. There is a short video on the page too claiming that its had little affect on Iceland, the strong winds are sending most of the ash towards Europe. They also say the ash may damage vehicles. There are other links relating to volcanoes on the page.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8626686.stm

[Niamh]

On flight industry note... I wonder how many of our jobs will be lost if this is on going? we closed at 11am this morning and only one shop served any customers. If this is on going people in the shops in the airports might get temporarily laid off, which is not good in an country deep in recession. We all just went through a receivership... I dont think i could deal with lay offs this soon after.

[Helga]

wow, the world seems very interested in iceland right now.... the direction of the wind is keeping all the ash away from the capital and the side of the country I live so I'm not affected in any way at the moment except with jokes about the UK wanting cash but since we don't have c in our alphabet they just got ash...

well people are safe to stay at home even though they live close by to Eyjafjallajökull. there was an eruption a few weeks ago in fimmvörðuhals but that one is over and just a few days later this one erupted and they think Katla will erupt too. that one is very close to me and if the wind changes a bit most of the country will be covered in ash. this one is a lot bigger than the last one and because it's a glacier a lot of water has been running and ruining roads and fields.

I can't say I'm following all the news about this eruption there is a tie on the news between this and a report about who's fault it is that we are broke so I can't say the news are very 'fun' at the moment so I avoid it as much as I can....

[papayahed]

Stay Well, Helga!

[Satan]

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2396/eyjafjallajokull.jpg

Inverted radar shot of Eyjafjallajokull volcanic craters. :lol:

NASA hi-res satellite image (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/444588main_icelandvolcano-20100615.jpg) of the volcanic clouds. [WARNING: large file]

Looks like Iceland projectile-vomited on all of Europe. :D

[Niamh]

Yeah i saw that image on the internet yesterday and though someone had done an ultrasound and found a demon! :D

[Janine]

When I first viewed it I thought it looked demonic too....sort of scary...

I read a lot online about it. I will try to comment tomorrow. Hope everyone up that way keeps safe. The air can become really toxic so take precautions.


Until then here's a good article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100418/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_iceland_volcano

[Niamh]

Here is a link to an image of the ash cloud over Europe from last night.

[JuniperWoolf]

It sucks, because no one can get to the funeral for the president of Poland now (our Prime Minister can't).

[Lokasenna]

It sucks, because no one can get to the funeral for the president of Poland now (our Prime Minister can't).

That is a rather sad effect of the eruption. President Obama and Prince Charles have had to cancel as well.

[Niamh]

Forgot the link!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8168313

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Thanks for the thread Niamh.
I was out of town all of last week with limited access to communication and therefore not aware of the volcanic activity.

What are the conditions like over Ireland for example?
Is the daytime sky entirely darkened or hazy?

Hope all are well across the way.

Gilliatt

[Helga]

the airports are all still closed and only flying to one city in Norway but the wind is still keeping me in the clear so I'm not affected by this in any way yet. but there is some activity under Katla now and it will probably erupt too so then things might get worse both here and in most of Europe.

[hillwalker]

It has been cloudy for the last four or five days but today is glorious so I'm looking forward to a glorious sunset tonight on the North West Coast of Scotland.
As they say 'every ash cloud has a golden lining'.

As for the environmental impact - volcanic eruptions are part of the earth's natural rhythms long before man crawled from the mud and our atmosphere has not suffered because of them. Just another case of Man thinking his status is of more consequence than the planet's.

[Janine]

Forgot the link!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8168313

Wow, that is a BIG cloud!

[Niamh]

The sky has been a beautiful blue since thursday. We cant actually see the ash, but there is a haze to the sky and a grey haze to the horizon. The winds have slightly changed so there is heaps of ash heading straight for the north of Ireland were as before hand the thicker clouds were skimming the northern Islands of Scotland into the north sea spreading down over britain and europe and over to Scandinavia before swirling west wards and then northwards over sothern Ireland which meant we were getting a very light cloud of ash in our stratosphere. With it coming Straigth down over the north it will be a denser over Ireland. We are waiting for it to rain to bring it all down. Was suppose to rain today and it didnt. Our airports are completely shut. Nothing in or our until at least 1pm tomorrow but thats likely to change. there is talk of it going on until Friday.

[Taliesin]

You know, I have had for quite a time a light-blue dream, that, by some strange happenstance, zeppelin travel will become economical again.
Could this be it?
I know, zeppelins, at least for now, are considerably slower and hold less people than planes, but they also use less fuel, fly at lower altitudes (so one can enjoy the view of real landscape instead of hours of the sky-and-cloud thingy which gets boring rather soon), can land pretty much anywhere and last, but not the least, are so much more aesthetic than the aeroplanes.


I have heard that these ash clouds wouldn't stop zeppelin travel. What do you think?

[Lokasenna]

Ooh, a pretty picture of the eruption courtesy of NASA:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/1004/icevolcano_fulle_big.jpg

Nature is incredible, isn't it?

[ClaesGefvenberg]

Nature is incredible, isn't it?Yes, indeed, and so is that picture. Amazing...

/Claes

[Niamh]

You know, I have had for quite a time a light-blue dream, that, by some strange happenstance, zeppelin travel will become economical again.
Could this be it?
I know, zeppelins, at least for now, are considerably slower and hold less people than planes, but they also use less fuel, fly at lower altitudes (so one can enjoy the view of real landscape instead of hours of the sky-and-cloud thingy which gets boring rather soon), can land pretty much anywhere and last, but not the least, are so much more aesthetic than the aeroplanes.


I have heard that these ash clouds wouldn't stop zeppelin travel. What do you think?

There is a factory in Germany that have been remaking them for years! :D maybe they'll get the popularity they always wanted to return! :p


Yeah i saw that picture yesterday and it is gobsmacking!

[Helga]

well they say the wind will change tomorrow night and then the ash and smoke will be all over my town. mask are sold out in most stores because of the danger of the ash to lunges, but they say a cloth is enough to prevent inhaling them. I need to buy some isolation tape for the windows and doors in my house cause it's old and maybe not hundred percent airtight.... :(

this link is from an icelandic news channel with news in icelandic and english and footage from the volcano if you are interested...

http://www.ruv.is/flokkar/hamfarir/eldgos-i-eyjafjallajokli

[applepie]

Take care Helga, and good luck getting everything sealed up. I'll confess a certain morbid curiosity in the overall affect of the eruption on weather around the world. It is said that large scale eruptions can cause changes for years to come.

[Janine]

Lokaseena, that photo is truly beautiful and awesome. Thanks for posting it.

Helga, do stay safe. I will checking on here for any updates. I have been reading the news and watching podcasts about the event. It's pretty darn scary and also the power of nature is indeed 'incredible'. I am going now to check out your link - hope I can see it.

That is fascinating about the Zepplins. I thought they were ancient history. I didn't know they were still making those. I will have to check out.

[Niamh]

Take care please Helga!! We'll be all be thinking of you!

[Satan]

Some pictures:

http://submiturpics.com/images/jhhv7myn18txpdnh2z.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/em4stiydkwzud47cp40i.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/uwq0e3cjhlh0hv68bh.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/fzs57rnxsypth30ozmt2.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/edfi7r6ftkgiwnouume.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/pikoqatl5ksi58bpskhm.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/6dqb9xxkmerirolwo7w.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/nmc48t8fiot1txi083yp.jpg
http://submiturpics.com/images/qwts6b7iwzqkzy2fi62.jpg

[Niamh]

one word... wow!

[Janine]

Satan, those photos are incredible...best ones I have seen so far. They are actually quite beautiful. I love the coloring in #1 and #2; the cloud formation in next to the last is gorgeous and shows the sheer power of the earth.

[Virgil]

well they say the wind will change tomorrow night and then the ash and smoke will be all over my town. mask are sold out in most stores because of the danger of the ash to lunges, but they say a cloth is enough to prevent inhaling them. I need to buy some isolation tape for the windows and doors in my house cause it's old and maybe not hundred percent airtight.... :(

this link is from an icelandic news channel with news in icelandic and english and footage from the volcano if you are interested...

http://www.ruv.is/flokkar/hamfarir/eldgos-i-eyjafjallajokli

Oh take precautions Helga, for you and your child. Keep safe.

Fabulous pictures Loka and Satan.

[JuniperWoolf]

God, that's beautiful.

Wouldn't it suck if this volcano kept erupting for like, a year (like it did last time) and there could be no flights in many parts of Europe for that entire time?

[DanielBenoit]

My God Satan! For some reason while looking at those pictures I was thinking of Book I of Paradise Lost the whole time lol.

What beautiful genocide nature can create (and I say that unironically).

Btw, I've been too lazy to look back through this thread to see if it's been mentioned but, did you know that if the supervolcano at Yellowstone Park (U.S.), Old Faithful erupts, we are pretty much all ****ed. It is certain that almost the entire mid-west of the U.S. and North America will be wiped out, thus destroying much of the world's "breadbasket". The dust and ash will spread all throughout the world and kill many. The amounts of C02 going into the atmosphere will create a relatively immediete greenhouse effect and a volcanic winter is imminet (like in 1816 (?) known as "The Year without a Summer) though this will be much worse. And, it is not unreasonable to think that after its eruption most of the northern hemisphere will go into an ice age.

Ahh, there's my daily dose of paranoia to all you guys, enjoy :D


(Totall off-subject: Btw, did you guys know that the biggest wave in recorded history occured in 1958 at Lukia Bay in Alaska, and was around 1,720 feet tall! :eek: That's taller than the Empire State Building! Not only that, but a father and his son who were out fishing that day lived to tell how they literately rode over the wave. http://www.sitnews.us/Kiffer/LituyaBay/070808_lituya_bay.html)

[dizzydoll]

Absolutely stunning pictures, thanks for sharing Satan. :thumbsup:

Just when we thought humans rule... our eyes are quickly opened.

What is the latest news? Will we have a World Cup, or will passengers still be grounded? :toetap05:

[Musicology]

For 5 consecutive days the huge dust cloud associated with a volcanic eruption at Fimmvorduhals in Iceland has poured in to the air and moved southwards, affecting Ireland and the United Kingdom. With cancelled airliner flights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVWiL7yzIvI

Iceland is located North West of the UK and Ireland. But if the Earth and its atmosphere is really rotating at many hundreds of miles an hour how do we explain 5 consecutive days when this light dust from the Iceland volcano has been moving only south and that the dust is now not worldwide ?

Answers to -

Flight Manager
Copernican Airways
c/o Rotary Club

[Musicology]

Strange that the Icelandic dust cloud is not rotating at hundreds of miles an hour around the entire world but continues, day by day, to head south. Which is quite a feat if you consider the Earth's atmosphere is rotating at many hundreds of miles west to east each day.

LOL

[dizzydoll]

For 5 consecutive days the huge dust cloud associated with a volcanic eruption at Fimmvorduhals in Iceland has poured in to the air and moved southwards,

I cant answer your question but I must ask, the ash is blowing southwards... does anyone have a map that is more up-to-date than this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8168313

The reason I ask, I am wondering when/if the ash will cover Iraq airspace. Anyone know?

[Niamh]

They had one on RTE news last night and it showed the ash just about reaching the east coast of America. Thats some stretch! From Russia to America. I'll see if i can find it.

[Aravona]

My friend has been complaining about this erruption, she is the only person I know complaining she isnt there. She was meant to be going and having a trip at the volcano for uni. Now shes stuck on the wrong island.

Also this volcano is killing my work atm, meant to be doing a big filming thing with someone and hes stuck abroad. Its not good, I hope it calms down soon.

[dizzydoll]

Here are two maps showing both the direction of the ash and flights affected. It says Europe starts to resume flights:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8625813.stm

Here is a page to many links providing lots of information, including maps:

THIS PAGE IS UPDATED EVERY FEW MINUTES (http://www.google.com/search?q=iceland+volcano+eruption&hl=en&sa=X&source=univ&tbs=nws:1&tbo=u&ei=3nrNS6rRC87bsAaLnoXTDQ&oi=news_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQsQQwAA)

Still, nothing stops it from changing direction. The wind is the master for now.

[Helga]

I read in the paper today that they think the ash is staying closer to home now because of rain and the wind will be blowing it in the opposite direction, but some airplanes are up and about now and the locations they are going will probably be more and more in the next few days. there is still a lot of activity up there and some farmers have given up and slaughtered their animals even. there won't be anything left next summer, no work when the ground is ruined by the ash and fluoride settling in the ground.

[Babbalanja]

Robert,

The point is that the dust IS rotating with the Earth, the way everything on the planet's exterior does.

The only thing fixed and immutable on the Earth seems to be your ability to deny reality.

Regards,

Istvan

[Babbalanja]

I was supposed to fly to Scotland for a family reunion on Friday, but the flight was cancelled. We're hoping to reschedule in the summer.

Regards,

Istvan

[dizzydoll]

The terrifying cauldron of lava and lightning that has brought chaos to our airports... and it's STILL going strong 20th April 2010.

This page has more beautiful pictures too: click here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1267423/Iceland-volcano-eruption-The-terrifying-cauldron-lava-lightning-brought-chaos-airports.html)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/20/article-0-0933277D000005DC-626_964x637.jpg

and

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/19/article-1267018-092EB26D000005DC-530_964x636.jpg

This page has more beautiful pictures too: click here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1267423/Iceland-volcano-eruption-The-terrifying-cauldron-lava-lightning-brought-chaos-airports.html)

Looking at this, I wouldnt take a chance getting on any airplanes now, they should wait till more ash settles imo.

[dizzydoll]

The Press Association - 26 minutes ago
Nats said in an update earlier on Tuesday: "Since our last statement at 9pm yesterday, the volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK.

..

Air passengers in London have been braced for further delays after warnings that a "new ash cloud" was spreading towards the UK as the volcano eruption in Iceland "strengthened".

Air traffic control company Nats said flights before 1am on Wednesday will now only be allowed in eastern Scotland and part of northern England, excluding the main London airports, including Heathrow.

Earlier, British Airways announced it would aim to resume some flights from London's airports from 7pm on Tuesday. But in light of last night's update from Nats, a BA spokesman said it was "reviewing" its schedule.

Nats said in an update earlier on Tuesday: "Since our last statement at 9pm yesterday, the volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK.

"This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working. Latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation is variable."

While travel organisations warned that it would be some time before travel and airports were back to normal, airlines were counting the cost of the disruption, which has seen a shutdown of UK airports since the end of last week.

BA said the flight ban had cost it around £15 million to £20 million a day. Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, questioned the necessity of the hitherto "blanket ban" on flights, also said that European carriers had asked the EU and national governments for financial compensation.

The British Air Transport Association, with signatories and support from all major UK airlines, wrote to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis asking the Government "to commit to standing behind the industry financially at this very difficult time".

British Airways said it had scrapped plans to operate some long-haul flights from Heathrow airport on Tuesday.

The airline said: "Despite the fact that airspace over most European countries is open, UK airspace remains effectively closed. We deeply regret the great inconvenience caused to our customers as a result of Nats' decision to close UK airspace over the last six days."
Air traffic controllers monitor new ash cloud (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hKdjRaxBQL5A_6y6rVsYUuUklLdg)
49minutes ago

[Annamariah]

Those pictures look awesome, but I really wouldn't want to be around when something like that happens...

Today the tabloids said that they are expecting Katla to erupt too in a couple of days too.

Helga, I really hope everything's going fine with you :)

[Niamh]

It was supposed to rain here for the last three days and as yet there is nothing. We've had the clouds but not a single drop. Its weird. We need the rain to bring the ash to the ground so the skies will clear and planes can fly.

[1n50mn14]

.....

[DanielBenoit]

strange that the icelandic dust cloud is not rotating at hundreds of miles an hour around the entire world but continues, day by day, to head south. Which is quite a feat if you consider the earth's atmosphere is rotating at many hundreds of miles west to east each day.

Lol

pleeease do not bring this up again.

[dizzydoll]

I read somewhere that some people have begun slaughtering their livestock. Its sad but humane under these conditions.

Lets hope this will not be the case:

Fire and Ice

The previous eruption of the 1,666-meter peak in December 1821 continued until January 1823. The current blast has sent ash to 7 kilometers, according to Gudrun Larsen, a volcanologist at the University of Iceland. The magma had to pierce 200 meters of ice before reaching the air, she said.

“We really don’t know if this eruption is going to last as long as the previous one, but we can’t say it’s not a possibility,” Larsen said by telephone.

Haraldur Eiriksson, a meteorologist at the Icelandic meteorological office, predicts little change in the ash pattern in Europe, at least through April 23.

“The forecast hasn’t changed, although the height the volcano is spewing the ash into has decreased from 5 to 6 kilometers to less than 3 kilometers and now it can’t be seen on our radars,” he said.

[Virgil]

This is a cool site that put together an animation of the spread of the volcanic ash.

http://i.imgur.com/flMMU.gif

[Musicology]

Wonder how Earth rotation and the rotation of the Earth's atmosphere is affecting the dust of that volcano, day after day. LOL !!
:nod:

Great ! In around 20 years the dust will rotate around the Earth ?

Which is strange if the Earth's atmosphere is really rotating around the Earth once every 24 hours, yes ?

I suppose that site has info from the last 5 days or so. :biggrin5:

Spin Merchants 0
Stable Earth 1


This is a cool site that put together an animation of the spread of the volcanic ash.

http://i.imgur.com/flMMU.gif

I didn't bring it up. The Icelandic volcano did. And, as usual, it's questioning the 'spin merchants'. And they have no answer. You can see the rotation below -

:willy_nilly:

Somebody will finally come up with some measured, verifiable, published data on 'Earth rotation', Earth's 'ocean rotation', and Earth's 'atmosphere rotation'. They rotate once every 24 hours. Surely ? Gulp !!


pleeease do not bring this up again.

[JuniperWoolf]

I described to my Earth and Atmospheric Sciences friend that there was some person on my lit forum who wouldn't shut up about how the earth is fixed in space, and now she's going through all of his posts. She says (and I quote): "Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!"

[Lulim]

pleeease do not bring this up again.

I second this!

And I want to add that this thread is NOT about the movement (or imagined non-movement) of the earth. So please, don't start hijacking this thread by off-topic comments about your pet subject which is extensively exhausted anyway.

[Musicology]

Lulim,

Please don't start hijacking this thread on the Iceland volcanic eruption by hiding the fact the dust cloud simply refuses to rotate the Earth. And it's now day 6.

Here is still another plain example of science fact versus science fiction.

Do not resent plain, verifiable, lessons from nature. Even when they contradict your textbooks. The dust from this volcano is consistent with the Earth fixed in space and being blown by the wind south. The wind is in the atmosphere, isn't it. And it's definitely not rotating west to east, is it ? Not at many hundreds of miles an hour. Can it possibly get more simple ?

Thank You


I second this!

And I want to add that this thread is NOT about the movement (or imagined non-movement) of the earth. So please, don't start hijacking this thread by off-topic comments about your pet subject which is extensively exhausted anyway.

[Lokasenna]

Wonder how Earth rotation and the rotation of the Earth's atmosphere is affecting the dust of that volcano, day after day. LOL !!
:nod:

I was rather enjoying this thread. Please don't ruin it.

Anyway, I note that the airports are now opening up. I'm not sure whether that's because they've decided it's safe, or whether they've given into pressure from the airline industries. From what I can tell, the eruption is getting worse, so they'd better be sure about their decision - if just one plane goes down, there will be hell to pay.

[dizzydoll]

This is a cool site that put together an animation of the spread of the volcanic ash.

http://i.imgur.com/flMMU.gif

Thanks for this link Virgil, its really cool. Seems to me it shows that while the wind blew the ash to the south at first, its now beginning to head north/east, judging by the animation on this link. Anyhoo, the way I see it is that the wind is free to move as it pleases, its not governed by anything on earth... am I correct?

[applepie]

I was rather enjoying this thread. Please don't ruin it.

Anyway, I note that the airports are now opening up. I'm not sure whether that's because they've decided it's safe, or whether they've given into pressure from the airline industries. From what I can tell, the eruption is getting worse, so they'd better be sure about their decision - if just one plane goes down, there will be hell to pay.

I suppose some things just wont die, and some people refuse to agree to disagree :mad:

I'm sure the airlines are confident that they are safe to fly. My husband worked on the electrical systems of airplanes in the military (radar and some others that I'll not mention), and one of the first things he asked about when I mentioned that planes had been grounded was "Why don't they just use the systems in the plane?". I don't know much myself about it, but he assures me that they can fly in a pitch black cloud with little issue :nod:.

[TheFifthElement]

I'm sure the airlines are confident that they are safe to fly. My husband worked on the electrical systems of airplanes in the military (radar and some others that I'll not mention), and one of the first things he asked about when I mentioned that planes had been grounded was "Why don't they just use the systems in the plane?". I don't know much myself about it, but he assures me that they can fly in a pitch black cloud with little issue :nod:.
That's because it's got nothing to do with the pilot not being able to see. The volcanic ash damages the aeroplane - from the BBC:


The fine, abrasive particles erode metal, clog fuel and cooling systems and melt to form glassy deposits. Flight instruments, windows, lights, wings and cabin air supply can also be affected

Basically it clogs up the engine, the engine becomes choked with glass, and when the engines don't work at 30,000ft, well, I wouldn't want to be on there that's for sure.

[Lulim]

(...)
"Why don't they just use the systems in the plane?". I don't know much myself about it, but he assures me that they can fly in a pitch black cloud with little issue :nod:.

As far as I understood, they weren't so much worried about the impeded sight but about the damage to the engines caused by the volcanic ashes.

[applepie]

That's because it's got nothing to do with the pilot not being able to see. The volcanic ash damages the aeroplane - from the BBC:



Basically it clogs up the engine, the engine becomes choked with glass, and when the engines don't work at 30,000ft, well, I wouldn't want to be on there that's for sure.

See, that makes more sense :D

[Niamh]

Can we keep this thread focusing on the events that are actually happening at present please?
Thank you.

[Niamh]

I was rather enjoying this thread. Please don't ruin it.

Anyway, I note that the airports are now opening up. I'm not sure whether that's because they've decided it's safe, or whether they've given into pressure from the airline industries. From what I can tell, the eruption is getting worse, so they'd better be sure about their decision - if just one plane goes down, there will be hell to pay.

The winds have changed and the ash has dispersed quite considerably. Test flights have come back fine and because of this its been dubbed safe to fly for now. It all depends on if the wind changes again though.

I have to say it was nice to finally see people flying through the airport today.

[applepie]

It will be nice to see things moving. I know there are a number of troops who were meant to be home for leave that are now likely going to miss out on their two weeks off all together:(

Is the volcano still spewing ash? Last I heard, they had made a mention that it looked like the ash may quit and lava would start.

[Niamh]

I think its still spouting ash. it did yesterday morning.

[JuniperWoolf]

If I were stuck in a European airport right now, I'd be terrified to get on a plane as soon as the airports opened. This has never happened before, so it's not like anyone can really guarantee that the air is "safe." I could just see like, eight plane crashes happening in one day and the aftermath... panic, everyone trying to find someone to blame.

[Niamh]

It happened in 1982 which is why they knew the effect that the ash would have on the planes. They had reconstuction pictures in one of the daily papers today of the plane from 1982 engulfed that brought the reality of volcanic ash threat to aviation authorities..
here they are
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/131706/JET-S-ASH-CLOUD-HORROR/

There is still ash in the air. It might have been premature of them to start flights again tbh.

[dizzydoll]

Ash cloud 'poses no health risk' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8632040.stm)

Well that is good news at least, so now maybe we can go ahead to win the world cup now. lol

[Lulim]

The airports are reopened in germany:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=771&pictureid=6747

this one is probably on his way to Frankfurt (just 10 minutes ago), judging by its direction (please excuse the poor quality)

[Helga]

airports are closed in iceland and will be for at least two days. a few items that are imported here are running low like fruits.... but we just hope it will soon be over and actually I'm hoping Katla will have a small eruption too, volcanoes are like anger, if it's kept inside to long it will burst with a big bang so it's better to get just little at a time so it won't be as bad.... But it would be very bad if it would erupt with a big bang!

[Virgil]

Ash cloud 'poses no health risk' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8632040.stm)

Well that is good news at least, so now maybe we can go ahead to win the world cup now. lol

Not sure I believe it. As you get further away from the epicenter, it's got to be less of a problem, but if second hand cigarette smoke is supposed to be a health issue, I have to believe this is as well.

[Niamh]

closer to the centre its dangerous alright. There would be small glass particles in the ash. not good for the lungs... in saying that the ash wouldnt be good for the lungs.

Business is almost back to normal here in the airport. Still cant help but fear the winds will change again. the weather has been fantastic since the ash came our way.

Take care Helga!