Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull Volcano

[LadyPakal]

yep it looks like it ,what's the white line i can see on there

just glare on the lens in the sun I think.

Post 345 in http://scienceblogs.com/eruptions/2010/04/a_quick_note_on_thawing_ice_ca.php#comments is interesting:

'According to the news on Rúv scientists are currently flying over the eruption site in order to try figure out what is going on at the moment. But it looks like that they are quite at loss what is currently happening in Eyjafjallajökull, as this normally does not happen with Icelandic volcano.

Over the past ~80 years (when volcano monitoring started for real in Iceland) when a volcano eruption starts in Iceland it starts big and drops after that. It does not start small and then grows in size like has happened now.

I am now expecting a more explosive eruption to start soon if there is any explosive magma over there. But that is what I am expecting, given the current data that I have. But only time is going to tell how right or wrong I am in this matter.'

Post 350 is interesting too:

'A brand-new report at Nordvulk (www.earthice.hi.is/page/ies_Eyjafjallajokull_eruption) gives the volume of uncompacted tephra (all loose volcanic material such as ash) produced since 14 April as 140 million cubic meters. That corresponds to about 70-80 million cubic meters of dense rock, and it is a significant volume. Put this in relationship with something really cataclysmic like Pinatubo (1991), though, which emitted at least 5 cubic kilometers (that is 5000 million cubic meters) of tephra, then you get a perspective. But right, it may still go there. Let's hope it will not.'

[r_dancing]

Oooh here she goes again. Its like a wall! What are the chances of molton rock from the volcano? I kept thinking i saw an orange glow with the lightning last night but it could just be from the camera.

[Mondy]

French are flight testing - you can see the flight here: http://www.radarvirtuel.com/

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...unded/story-e6frfku0-1225855203278

"Not one single weather balloon has been sent up to measure how much volcanic ash is in the air."

Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walter added.

"The flight ban, made on the basis just of computer calculations, is resulting in billion-high losses for the economy.

"In future we demand that reliable measurements are presented before a flying ban is imposed."

[The PIT]

Not happy bunnies. Perhaps they need a air crash say directly onto Paris or Berlin????

Also what's stopping there met office from launching balloons and doing test flights???

[Tom D]

The thing is, with tensions mounting between the scientists and the airline companies, some might ask how much ash does it take to stop an aeroplanes engines from working? I suppose it's a bit like asking 'how much water does it take to drown someone?' to which, of course, there is no definite answer.

EDIT: I'm visiting the Met Office Hadley Centre next Friday as part of a field trip to Exeter this week; should be interesting given the current situation. I feel I should ask some questions about it when I'm there... if anyone has any questions I wouldn't mind asking (given they're sensible )

[MAF]

i thought the met o were doing test flights

all seems to smack of frustration from loss of money coming in to me. after all, its not the Met O who are banning flights. NATS and the other agencies are acting on info from Met O. but if you were in the position of saying "we stop all flights" would you not check, double check and check again

[LadyPakal]

Some pics of last nights eruption.

http://eyjan.is/blog/2010/04/18/hrikalegar-eldglaeringar-og-sprengigos-i-eyjafjallajokli-i-nott/?mynd=1#myndaalbum

[Mondy]

BA747 from Heathrow to Cardiff on a test flight later, heading as far out as 50N 20W then to Cardiff. Flight endurance may last 3.5 hours. More on this later I suspect.

[Crimson_Sprite]

magnificent lightning in those pics!! I wish there was a camera to watch from THAT view point! The camera at Valahnúk is being obscured by cloud a lot, and I cant see the ash from the other 2 camera.. just clouds..

[Mondy]

Few good pix here too: http://twitpic.com/photos/NealKarlinsky

[dogs32]

test flight going up at Heathrow :D

a good sign to see if they can get some flights moving

Spain re-opens it s airports

[conor123]

I am currently in Frankfurt and was meant to be flying back to Stansted yesterday, my flights been moved to Tuesday but im guessing it will get cancelled.

Is there not any other way to get home?

[MAF]

I am currently in Frankfurt and was meant to be flying back to Stansted yesterday, my flights been moved to Tuesday but im guessing it will get cancelled.

Is there not any other way to get home?

not unless you can buy a bike

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8627026.stm

and even people who are trying to help are been denied

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8627922.stm

[Rich_T]

Its certainly been much quieter at East midlands airport, although there has been some light/small aircraft activity.

As for the safety issue, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see airlines criticising the air traffic control agencies if this continues, and then threes the possibility of staff lay off's at the airlines.

As for getting back from Frankfurt, train/public transport to a ferry terminal, such as Amsterdam ( for the Newcastle/harwich ferry ) Belgium for the ostend ferry or any of the channel ports further along. Going the other way you could try Denmark/esjberg then there's Eurostar from Belguim if you can get a place.

there used to be a ferry from Germany to the UK, but like the Norway ferry it stopped because of competition from the air, with the bilbao ferry service cancelled and due to stop soon it looks like our travel options are being severely cut back, maybe its time to invest more in terrestial travel instead of air transport with all its restrictions on baggage and other such stuff.

[MAF]

UK Flight restrictions now up to 0700 BST Monday

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8627545.stm

[LadyPakal]

A friend was skiing in Val De Saire (or however you spell it) last week - he has spent the last 2 days on a bus & was last heard of about to get on the Eurostar train. He still has to get back up here and is due in to work Tuesday (as tomorrow is a local holiday here). Connor - I'd suggest you check the train timetables to Paris or to wherever you can hop over the channel....

[dogs32]

Gordon Brown to hold an emergency meeting ...on the current crisis with the possabilty with the NAVY to get people back home

I reckon I can see the volcanic ash cloud here..

looks like(similar)to cirrus clouds in streaks stretching for miles..

[coldfingers]

Valahnuk webcam clearing periodically and allowed glimpses of the plume. She's still smoking!

Wish i could read those seismic charts! Mind you, even the scientists are getting this one wrong.

[cowdog]

The HVO (Lagu Hvolar) seismometer which is the closest to Katla is peaking, yet the others aren't increasing as much. Does look to my untrained eye it might be Katla that is causing this general seismic increase in the area, hope to god its not, but if its got to blow, best to do it now when we already have the mess from Eyjafjallajokull.

Seismic charts are available here -

http://hraun.vedur.i...web/tremor.html

HVO is the one next too Katla, ESK the one next to Eyjafjallajokull. Both are almost the south most stations.

http://hraun.vedur.i...todvaplott.html is a page for the 5 seismometers around that area.

[dogs32]

SKY repoter saying the ash as got worse than anything...and the concern is Katla erupting from the locals,,,still cant find any definite evidence its coming to life.

[The watcher]

What are the implications if Katla blows?

I was looking up and comparing their VEI's and Katla seems to blow between 1000 - 10'000 times stronger than the current volcano.

Although Katlas strength mainly comes from the very thick Glacier covering it, the pressure must be phenomenal.

[MAF]

latest from Met Office

Update to Volcanic Ash Plume

Satellite imagery continues to show an active volcanic ash plume spreading southwards and southeastwards. Recent information from the Icelandic Met Office suggests the volcano is currently erupting ash to a height of approximately 4 to 5km. Further observations of ash continue to be received from many parts of the UK. Issued at 1553 on Sun 18 Apr 2010.

[SnowBear]

My view is if Katla blows, it blows, not going to stop it, just sit back and enjoy the show and appreciate the work of nature in progress plus seeing a little bit of the history of the Earth in the making.

To be honest, Iceland has been quiet as have many of the larger big volcanoes around the world for some time, last really big one was Pinatubo I think? 15 years ago?

[January Snowstorm]

The sky over Cork is looking very milky / hazy.

Not sure if it's the ash or not, but I presume it is.

I would think the BA test flight will get some shock when it goes up in this stuff, visibly looks much worse than it has been

[coldfingers]

My view is if Katla blows, it blows, not going to stop it, just sit back and enjoy the show and appreciate the work of nature in progress plus seeing a little bit of the history of the Earth in the making.

To be honest, Iceland has been quiet as have many of the larger big volcanoes around the world for some time, last really big one was Pinatubo I think? 15 years ago?

I quite agree, no amount of wishing is going to alter what happens so I for one am enjoying the front seat view the webcams give.

Well until the weather closed in!

Still tomorrows forecast for Reykavik (sorry if that is spelt wong.:blush:) is for sunny weather. At least, that was what they said yesterday!