Icelandic eruption and the weather

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Thought it might be interesting to start a thread on this.
eruption in iceland

It seems to be a fissure eruption and after some reading this afternoon I think it is unlikely at the moment to be putting up large quantities of ash into the atmosphere, this sort of eruption does not seem to be the explosive sort. If it starts to, then we could see some particularly spectacular sunsets.

Worries are though that it might trigger Katla volcano which could be potentially pretty devestating, not only to Iceland but also could affect weather on a global scale. Large eruptions have historically caused global cooling and influenced weather patterns.

hopefully fears end up being unfounded

A couple of other acronyms that might be useful:

VFR - Visual Flight Rules
IFR - Instrument Flight Rules

Large jet aircraft usually use instruments for flight/landing, but small (light) aircraft usually use visual. CAS is currently closed for instrument take-off/flight/landing. Light aircraft using VFR have been able to continue flying within CAS, and have always been able to fly outside controlled air space.

I think its very easy to get into a state of anxiety about all of this, but as there is nothing we can do, all that does is hamper our ability to carry on with life.

I think we are just going to have to hope and trust that the right decisions are made this week.

Katla might decide them for us!?

Angrywasp - it would certainly stop all the overreaction accusations!!

justabout - not really.
lots of pollen about too though.

We have snow!

sorry - took my eye of the weather ball! weather forums were talking about that a couple of days ago.

ashcast

interesting arguments today. met office aircraft have detected what they call dangerous levels of ash. airlines saying their test flights have shown no sign of damage. some heated debates today I think.

still looking like the end of the week, the weather will help us.

Here's a link to an Icelandic website:

www.ruv.is/upptokur/sjonvarpid/eldingar-i-gosmekkinum-i-gaerkvold

Click on the picture and Windows Media Player opens showing a short clip of lightning within the plume.

Interesting that airlines facing massive commercial risks are saying they want to get flying after their test flights but Govt agencies facing massive political risk are still saying lets wait.

I guess the arguement boils down to how much ash is regarded as 'being too dangerous'.

tis exactly that argument. Not sure though how much the NERC and Met office are being influenced by politics.
today will be interesting.

the lightning is very cool ugly

flight ban extended til 1am.

The test flights were ok - but how is that conclusive evidence that no engines will get clumps of ash in?
GentleOtter-is it snow? or ash

OYBK - why is there lightening in the ash cloud? Is it because of ionic charges building up on the ash/dust particles as they brush together?

Did anyone see David Learmount (from Flight International magazine) on News24 yesterday? I only caught a bit of it but I think 'the gist' of what he was saying was that these airlines might well do these test flights and find that nothing happens but the worry is that several months down the line, having flown in this ash, some damage might have been done to the small moving parts inside an engine. So you could be half way across the Atlantic (no ash cloud in sight) and find an engine stops suddenly. Really they just don't know the affects on an engine of flying in this ash and I don't think I'd like to get on a flight at the moment, just on the basis of a plane being OK on a test flight from London to Cardiff!

DH (bit of a plane spotter!) thinks that the airlines are especially wanting flights to start again, not just because they're losing money from the actual flights but from the duty free/airport shops being closed. If you think that with the economy flights/budget airlines that are around now, the big money isn't coming from just flights anymore, it's the shops at the airport where the money's made as well.

It is proper snow- I thought it was ash at first and was all shocked but it is bitterly cold and we had hailstones yesterday.
It is icy snow rather than fat snow iyswim.

This thread is so interesting, thanks

beta - I have always assumed it was down to particles becoming charged as they collide but you made me curious so I googled and:
'they' arent entirely sure why

can you imagine, if they did resume widescale flying and the airspace in one region closed in. It would be quite chaotic!

been a long old winter up there GO!

OYBK - WHats the blue line on the ash cast?

Rosa It is a contour showing one of the areas where ash is present at a height of between 20000-35000ft. The green line shows the other area where it is present at that height.

Is Katla waking up then?

unsure manky. could be tremors propagated through the system.

good news and bad news being reported.

good news is that significantly less ash is being produced.

not so good is that Associated press are reporting several f-16's have engine damage after flying through the ash.

Thanks..... Knew about the green and red but wasn't sure about the blue...