A Time to Reflect!
Much volcanic activity may occur in Iceland during the coming months: Eyjafjallajökull, perhaps Katla, Laki and others … even Jan Mayen their northerly neighbor could kick in keeping more flights grounded
Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Has Grounded Flights Across Much of Europe for a Second Day
As the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull volcano continues unabated, more smoke and ash from the glacier-filled volcano in Iceland drifts into Europe’s airspace, affecting up to a million air passengers. The disruption could continue into the weekend and beyond.
A radar image of the three craters emerging from under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier April 16, 2010. Credit: Icelandic Coast Guard
As of posting, up to 8,000 flights have been canceled since a no-fly zone was declared in northern Europe on Thursday. The airspace from as far west as the Republic of Ireland to Finland and was Western Russia are now closed. The countries that are directly affected and whose airspace have been shut down are: Republic of Ireland, Norway, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
Additionally there is a partial or planned no-fly zones currently operating in the northern airspace of three other countries: France, Germany and Poland.
Volcanic Ash and fumes (dark yellow, mustard and various shades of brown) from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption drift toward NW Europe. Copyright EUMETSAT 2010. Click image to enlarge.
How long Will the Eruption Last?
“It is likely that the production of ash will continue at a comparable level for some days or weeks. But where it disrupts travel, that depends on the weather,” Einar Kjartansson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the reporters.
The last time the subglacial volcano erupted, it went on ejecting ash for a period of two years, from 1821 to 1823.
Ash Drifting Very Slowly
In the absence of wind the ash cloud is “progressing very slowly eastwards” and has remained “very dense,” the European air traffic control, Eurocontrol, has said.
“In general, the situation cannot be said to be improving with any certainty,” the National Air Traffic Service in the UK was quoted as saying.
The European air traffic control organisation, Eurocontrol, said a lack of wind meant the ash cloud created by the volcano underneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull glacier was “progressing very slowly eastwards” and remained “very dense”.
In addition to the European airlines, at least 5 other long-haul airlines have canceled flights to Europe.
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