Posted on 04/16/2010 8:43:42 PM PDT by Steelfish
Iceland volcano from Space: The Dramatic Ash Plume Engulfing Britain and 'Nightmarish Face' Seen From Above [Pics in URL] CLAIRE BATES 16th April 2010
Created deep in the volcanic bowels of Iceland, this is the dramatic plume of ash engulfing the UK as seen from space. The hazy cloud spewing from the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano was captured by the Modis instrument on board Nasa's Terra and Aqua satellites, which view the entire Earth's surface once every two days. Modis was designed to respond rapidly so it can track natural disasters such as floods and forest fires in near real time.
The plume from the Icelandic volcano - seen as a grey-brown streak drifting across the middle of the image - is visible from space. It was imaged by the Modis instruments on two Nasa satellites as it blew towards the Shetland Islands In this natural-colour image taken yesterday, we can see the volcanic plume moving south-easterly from southern Iceland. It blows past the Faroe Islands and arcs slightly towards the north near the Shetland Islands. The tan hue indicates a fairly high ash content.
The spread of volcanic ash prompted authorities in the UK, Ireland, France, and Scandinavia to close airspace over their countries. The airspace closure had a ripple effect, disrupting flights all over the world. Unlike the soft, fluffy material that results from burned vegetation, volcanic ash consists of tiny jagged particles of rock. (snip)
It is not known how long the airspace closures will last because it depends on how long the volcano continues to erupt as well as wind direction. The scream: A radar image shows the crater of Eyjafjallajokull in southeast Iceland, which looks like the nightmarish face painted by Edvard Munch
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The image made me think of Jack Skellington for some reason.
Can we assume that Iceland has used up all of it’s Carbon Credits?
Will Lindsey G. ask US taxpayers to subsidize the unforeseen overrun?
My understanding is that the last time this thing blew off, it went for two years. That’s gonna put one serious piece of hurt on air traffic in the Euro area.
Massive by any dimension- thanks for the pic post.
The accent is on the o.
Best guess on the name: Eyafyallayerkel (er is the best I can do for phonetecizing an umlauted o).
I was watching the news today and a spokesman said the airlines were losing $200,000,000 a day. People are stranded all over that part of the world. Read somewhere that they were going to start running out of fresh fruit and veggies. What a disaster.
Wonder if that is a “gross” number or a “net” one. I’d suspect grosss. Either way, all forms of transportation are unquestionably in a world of hurt. Plus...aren’t the German railroads on strike as well? I’ve heard a few stories of 3-day campouts at the various airports over there. That would really, really suck.
He did not say but I think he said people were stranded in SF, too. Wonder why that was the only city in this country which was mentioned. Just what are all those people going to do?
Try: EYE OFF YALLA YOKUL (Yokull means “volcano,” I guess)
Pronounced EYE-a-fyat-la-jo-kutl.
Thats a LOL and absolutly no help to me what so ever..:O) but witty...
You have both been most informative......NOT....but laughing is good for you...:O)
Well, your guess is better than mine... I wouldn’t know where to start...Just glad its not my last name....
I am sheduled to go to Iceland and the Faroe Island next years, guess I will have some more ash to go with my Mt. St. Helens.
I am stuck in London. My 3-day trip is now gawd knows how long. Here is my experience as the event unfolded.
Thursday I was supposed to fly back to the states. Then the mess happened. Here is my story.
The airport was a mess.
I was booked Premium Economy on Virgin. Personal travel ya’know.
When I arrived Thursday at Heathrow for the flight back, I checked in and was told the flight would go and I then headed to the American Airlines lounge because I am a member and could relax in relative comfort.
As I waited, American started cancelling flights and I became concerned, as Virgin still showed on-time departure.
American continued to cancel flights but Virgin did not and soon the American lounge was empty and I had all the food to myself. Then the Virgin flight was cancelled.
I then called Virgin. After a long time on hold, Virgin picked up and after a chat they told me that because my booking was done through a travel agent they can’t help me. Told me to contact the agency that made the booking. Okay.
I called the travel agency, and after a long wait and short chat, was told they would call me back.
I waited and waited and waited and eventually they did call back. I explained the situation and was then told she would call me back.
She did.
No help, was told I need to deal with Virgin at the airport.
Argh.
So, Virgin tells me to contact the travel agency and the agency tells me to deal with Virgin. Great.
I wandered to the Virgin “transfer” desk and was told, as expected, to contact the travel agent. I contained my frustration but insisted upon service as I was standing right there! Virgin relented and decided to help one of their passengers.
After sorting alternate air travel details for Friday, you would think my ordeal was over——it wasn’t.
While I had not left the country I still had to go back through immigration/arrivals.
No kidding.
I wandered to arrivals and, wow, a mess.
There were literally thousands jammed into the arrivals hall. Seriously. The room was so full that the crowd was backed-up onto the ramp leading to the arrivals hall. Argh. And I hadn’t even left the country
I was forced to go through this mess!
Apparently, many flights were diverted to Heathrow, to include several Air India flights full of smelly people and noisy children.
There I was, stuck in the middle of thousands and I had no legitimate reason to be there.
I saw the Fast Track line and went over to it. Not so fast, some airport drone told me, I was not allowed to enter Fast Track because I didn’t have a fast track pass. Bah, I insisted I shouldn’t be here in the first place as I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY and would use Fast Track! I stayed in the line.
When after an hour in the Fast Track line, I arrived at a passport check station. The immigration officer was confused because I hadn’t filled out an arrivals card. I again explained I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY, that I had filled out the arrival card when I arrived and because I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY I shouldn’t have to fill out another card.
The guy finally had a spark inside the bureaucratic brain and relented and let me in.
Whew. Such an ordeal.
So, I am feeling quite worn out by the whole situation, wondering if I will get home before I go bankrupt.
Signing off from London. . .
.
See my Post 19.
I am seriously thinking of a cruise ship to get home.
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