Icelandic volcano - Grimsvotn eruption

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

starting a thread here about it as it is possible there may be some air travel disruption perhaps from it. I don't think it will be on the scale of Eyjaf from what i've been reading but it is possible that the back edge of tomorrows storm may bring the ash over uk space. If it does then the amount of disruption caused will depend on the type of ash (at the moment coarser I believe than Eyjafs eruption, so less likely to hang around) and the height and density of the plume. I'll spend a bit of time later trawling the boards and news to try and get a better feel for probabilities.

I'm impatient for updates here and keep going on the seismic bit of the Icelandic Metoffice to see if they have any news on whether things are calming down.

They'll only update every 6 hours. Tis the rules.

Its been quite difficult to find info on current activity!

Maybe we will get an update at around 4:30pmish??? from here

Forgot the updates are every 6 hours!

Just found the metoffice's latest 'ashcast.'

Thankyou for all the updates. I'm meant to be flying on Thursday and as soon as I heard about the ash cloud I headed here.

Oh dear. Im flying tomorrow 3pm from Amsterdam to Trondheim in Norway. What are my chances of making the flight ? Anyone know? Any info would be appreciated.

pixielovescake not sure. I suggest youcheck with the airline (phone website) and the departure airport's live departure feeds. If you can add a mobile number onto your flight booking (if you have done it online).

Good luck.

Ive had a quick look. My airline is ok so far.Fingers crossed.

I saw Phil Hammond talking about this on the lunchtime news.

Ash is expected to reach UK airspace (Scotland and perhaps N Ireland) by about midnight tonight. This won't mean automatic closure of airspace - apparently there is new monitoring equipment which means the density and composition can be more closely studied. Airlines will be able to make the case to keep flying to CAA - it depends on the nature of the cloud, the type of plane and (unspecified) other equipment the airline might have. If CAA approves the case to fly, they can keep going. So a much more flexible response than was possible last year.

Just announced on News24, that the CAA expects disruption to flights will start tomorrow.

And I read somewhere (I think Reuters quoting the Icelandic Met office) that the ash from this one is heavier/grittier than last year's, so won't hang around in the air for so long.

The English language pages of the Icelandic Met Office are a good source of information about the eruption.

Part of me wonders whether over the next few days people would have found a blanket ban easier than a rolling/evolving situation where noone knows if and when planes will be going. That is a purely speculative thought and an easy one to wonder when I'm watching from my armchair rather than having my life affected by it.

Hopefully it will be all gone by Thursday ((((fingers crossed))))

As per Aubergines link you can see the predicted concentration levels. As Aubergine says the red is designated as 'high concentration". I've been wasting far too much time time looking at reports instead of writing my own about something else! I feel rather sorry for the various authorities - it seems that the reports and recommendations on how to deal with volcanic ash mostly seem to be still at the draft or proposal stage! for example top one here

For interest a bbc report from this april about last years disruption. Interesting to compare it with any decisions made over the next few days. (wish I could read the report referred to in the article!)

logan air cancelled flights for tomorrow

Updated Bigthink blog here. It mentions a video of the volcano here. Note the impressive lightning going on!

asthmatics and other lung conditions sufferers should read this

Wow - a prof from Reading Uni just said on bbc news that 20% of lightning strikes world wide yesterday occurred in the plume from this volcano. That is astonishing! Can you imagine seeing that?!!!?

Some alluding to the impact this plume will have on the weather but nothing was really said on that.

oops didnt see your post Gloria - very cool :)

It HAS to have blown away by Thursday evening. Otherwise DH doesn't get home.

oops - that was an inappropriate cross post - sorry Hassled :( I love the science and the interest but appreciate how worrying and upsetting this must be for people like you

Oh don't worry - I did watch the video with interest :o. It is all interesting stuff - just bloody inconvenient.

latest update from eurocontrol which basically says there'll be an impact on some parts of Scotland and Ireland but due to meteorological conditions it is impossible to forecast beyond 24 hours.