Volcano Spews More Ash, Spawns Wider Flight Chaos

AP/Yahoo ^ | 4-17-2010 | Paisley Dodds

[blam]

Volcano Spews More Ash, Spawns Wider Flight Chaos

Associated Press Writer Paisley Dodds
4-17-2010

LONDON – A lingering volcanic ash plume forced extended no-fly restrictions over much of Europe on Saturday, as Icelandic scientists warned that volcanic activity had increased and showed no sign of abating — a portent of more travel chaos to come.

Scientists say that because the volcano is situated below a glacial ice cap, the magma is being cooled quickly, causing explosions and plumes of grit that can be catastrophic to plane engines if prevailing winds are right.

"The activity has been quite vigorous overnight, causing the eruption column to grow," Icelandic geologist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told The Associated Press on Saturday. "It's the magma mixing with the water that creates the explosivity. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight."

An expansive cloud of grit hovered over parts of western Europe on Saturday, triggering extended flight bans that stranded people around the globe. Continued volcanic activity could produce more plumes if the weather patterns stay the same.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the amount of ash in the plume grew Saturday and that the vast ash cloud is continuing to travel south and southeast. Scientists had planned to fly over the volcano to see how much ice has melted to determine how much longer the eruption could spew ash, but the Icelandic Coast Guard said Saturday's flight had been postponed.

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[MississippiMan]

Interesting blog MM, good work.

Thanks for the read and the kind words. Much appreciated, and I'd be remiss not to point out the enormous help I've gotten here on FR with regard to discussion and research.

MM (in TX)

[ErnBatavia]

We have the Coachella Music Festival going on this weekend....several Euro based groups have cancelled, as travel’s a no-go.

[Quix]

You have a handy link?

Which of such sites is the best?

[Quix]

Thanks.

[Figment]

Wouldnt it be interesting if this just went on for years and buried europe in 35 ft. of volcanic ash.... I mean seriously, who could stop it?

Happened in the Phillipines a few years back. No one could do a damned thing about it. What would algore suggest?

[Canedawg]

"I mean seriously, who could stop it?"

[ErnBatavia]

http://www.survival-warehouse.com/

[palmer]

That's possible although the neutron counts have been dropping lately to less than 4600 (see http://neutronm.bartol.udel.edu/realtime/thule.html). That is comparable to the counts through the solar minimums in the 90's (see http://neutronm.bartol.udel.edu/modplotth.gif). So although the peak was higher than usual last fall (a deeper solar minimum), we are back to a more typical solar minimum level now.

[Figment]

“Bring out the piston powered airplanes”

They eat air and have filters that clog up too. Back to boats it looks like

[Figment]

“I heard that Obama is going to fly to the funeral of the Polish president despite the ash cloud”

Yeah, and they told the Polish Presidents plane not to land because of fog.

[Quix]

THX THX.

[Figment]

They FLY lettuce into the UK?

That has GOT to be expensive.

Salad eaters should pay high prices

[patton]

I’ve got nothing against salad - but darned if I would fedex a head of lettuce!

[piytar]

Thanks, didn’t no about that shift...

[piytar]

Thanks, didn’t know about that shift...

[ErnBatavia]

I’ve never looked into anything other than spare canned and non-perishable stuff, but that three month food supply looks almost tempting. $275 to cover wifey and I for six weeks might be worth a second look later.

[Slicksadick]

http://notendur.hi.is/~aj/mynd/2010/auroras_eruption/
Great auroras and eruptions pictures here.

[Figment]

‘Well, yes, now that I think of it. Peas. A conex full of peas is worth about $70”

But peas have some taste and nutritional value. Ask a southerner who survived the depression what their main staple was. It wasn’t lettuce

[Slicksadick]

http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/englishweb/
Iceland earthquake charts updated every two minutes.

[Western Phil]

Of course waiting until those old constellations were built again might take a few years:)

My first boss said, "If it has three tails, go by rail."