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

And another as to how the evening has gone.
I posted in t'other thread:

Am a bit gobsmacked by the whole evening!!! Not quite sure what to make of it.

press release
very very unusual for manufacturers to suddenly change tolerances like that!

bloody hope they do the thorough engine inspections like they are supposed to. (dh says should take a few hours to do a proper inspection)

Also, what about the planes that were damaged??? do they really know enough about ash concentration levels.

Just. its a bloody farce and its real peoples lives.

o.m.g. airlines lobbying MET office and scientists...

i do hope this isn't a disaster in the making

I don't like the sound of this...

This is unbelievable.

The met office only state where the ash probably is and they arent changing what they are saying. However, I do think inappropriate pressure may have been put onto the CAA.

I just put the following in the news thread:

"ash forecast note how it does clear through much of the uk tomorrow.
Perhaps they are doing a diminishing returns thing. They know that the ash is lower, they think it will stay that way and thursday/friday it is due to pretty much clear out anyway due to the weather taking it n/e.

I think they would probably have been able to reopen by tomorrow evening and have taken an early punt."

Just a quick post. The following has been posted on uk.sci.weather by someone who lives in Reykavik:

www.ruv.is/upptokur/eldgos-i-eyjafjallajokli/miklar-hoggbylgjur-i-gignum

Click on the picture and Windows Media Player launches showing film footage of the volcano apparently showing shockwaves propogating through the plume.

Paxman on NEWSNIGHT discussing this now.

Just said rules were hastily rewritten.

I couldn't get on here last night but I see you're all like I was and at the sudden decision to open airspace. I said to DH when I heard the news, that it's almost like whoever was at this meeting (Dept. of Transport, the Transport Minister, NATS?) were pressured so much, that they said, "OK, fly in British airspace; on your heads be it."

What I find interesting is that the Budget airlines (and I think Ryanair especially did this a few days ago), cancelled flights ahead, before any news about the ash cloud came in. So for example, NATS were saying no flights until Sunday morning but Ryanair cancelled them until Monday lunchtime. And then we hear that by 6.30pm yesterday, BA had planes up in the air all due to arrive at British airports. They had to land somewhere and this piled on the pressure. Again it's 'interesting' how it was BA in the frontline of all this. We all know how much trouble BA is in at the moment- losing money, strikes etc. It was in their best interests to get flights running again, no matter what the costs. I hope those costs aren't going to show themselves to be too high.

fwiw ashcast

note how it clears most of the uk through the day. There was no need for BA to be such idiotic bullies last night.

Ryan Air still on the ground until Thurs ...Now either he is being cautious or Mr O is up to something - HE has already said he has no intention of paying out any extr a costs.....
As for Willie Walsh the man who has not taken a pay cut I think his tactics were bad.
I just hope that despite the rush to get everything flying again they stop and check the planes properly and don't risk peoples safety.

ashcast
most of europe looks good

encounters with ash reported
includes very interesting audio from thomas cook flight.

btw, reports dated 20th I think but after airpsace opened.

That's awful.

It does rather prove that the ash is not a met office invention as some of the statements I've read this week from some those in the airline industries suggest.

It does.

I hope they are checknig every plane properly before take off.

And again on landing.

more reassuring reports - not

I just came on to post that link too OYBBK.

It's very worrying!

Wow, I'm glad I heard that audio today rather than last night, just as my parents were about to get on their flight to Cyprus. They arrived OK but flight was delayed 2 hours because of the safety checks they're having to carry out on the engines at the moment!
I really hope all airlines are carrying out proper, thorough checks, not just casual glance overs after each flight.

ashcast

note how there is now little west of Iceland. reports that Iceland's airport is closed today.

Airports in the north of Scotland down to and including invberness closed til lunchtime too.

didn't spot that! interesting. in a way, it is reassuring because, it shows that they aren't pretending it doesnt exist. In the ashcast you can see it over scotland, but theres no clue about density given. So, I wonder if the risk areas shown are drawn up using the same criteria as before or whether they show where the newly defined 'risk density' is. (if that makes sense)

Iceland's international airport (Keflavik) is shut: they still have an airport in the north that is open, so people flying into Iceland are landing there and being bussed down to Reykjavik (I think it is a good 4 hour journey). Iceland is much bigger than people think it is!

Glasgow is now being used as Icelandair's hub for international traffic!