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 ...
Heathrow is “open.”
Some Americans in the Club received a call last night from their airlines saying to come to Heathrow this morning for their fight back to the states.
This morning they checked out of the Club and went to Heathrow, only to be told when they arrived that Heathrow is open for in-bound flights but not out-bound flights. Weird.
I’ve done some checking through some well-placed sources and BAA expects/plans to fly the regular schedule tomorrow, the day I am to fly back.
We shall remain hopeful.
Cajungirl, did you enjoy Scotland?
I am enjoying Scotland. Edinburgh is nippy but lovely.We went to the Rosslyn Chapel this morning, are walking to the Royal Mile this afternoon and eating at Stac Poly one of my fave restaurants. Tomorrow we go up to Inverness for four days I think. I hope you get home, post how Heathrow is and if the planes are going. Have a good, hope that is, trip!
PS I am such an optimist that I am booking a trip back in August for Wales and Ireland! That second volcano better not blow.
Are you sure those engines are going to be okay?
YEA! CONGRATS.
THX for the update.
You should put the Eisteddfod 2010 on your "things to do" in Wales if the dates are a good match for your trip. I'm hoping to make the event to Malad, ID this year. I missed it by one week last year when I was necessary to head to San Diego to make a living.
THat “making a living” is such a bummer!
All checked in and expect (God willing) to be out of here in a few hours.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.