The Iceland Volcano Thread

Another little update from met eireann:

20:09 Gerard Fleming of Met Éireann says high pressure in the northwest is directing the ash towards Ireland - he does not see the weather pattern changing within the next few days

On the other hand, forecasters in the UK are saying a slight change in wind direction should see the dust cloud move more easterly.

However I'm guessing the range of areas affected may not change much given how wide a net this thing seems to cast (e.g. with France closing airports today even though it wasn't really near the main areas of dust).

maquiladora wrote: »

UK air traffic ban extended until 13:00 tomorrow at the earliest.

To put more colour on that, flights between NI and Scotland may be permitted. They also say, however, that "the situation cannot be said to be improving with any certainty", with an eye on their next update at 2:30am (which will advise on the situation up to 6pm tommorrow).

The cloud of volcanic ash continues to cover much of the UK. Following a review of the latest Met Office information, NATS advises that restrictions will remain in place in UK controlled airspace until 1300 (UK time) tomorrow, Friday 16 April, at the earliest.

However, flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick may be allowed in the period from 0100 (UK time) to 1300 (UK time) tomorrow subject to individual co-ordination. North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in the period.

We will review further Met Office information and at 0230 (UK time) tomorrow we will advise the arrangements that will be in place through to 1800 (UK time) tomorrow. However be aware that the situation cannot be said to be improving with any certainty as the forecast affected area appears to be closing in from east to west. We continue to work closely with airports, airlines, and the rest of Europe to understand and mitigate the implications of the volcanic eruption.

Noticed kind of a dust on the car there a while ago, maybe its just from the road, i never looked for dust before on it, but i wud say its possible some has drifted over here to donegal??

Min wrote: »

The volcanic activity said to be intensifying - RTE news.

Might be relaying this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100415/wl_nm/us_iceland_volcano

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – A volcanic eruption in Iceland, which has thrown up a 6-km (3.7 mile) high plume of ash and disrupted air traffic across northern Europe, has grown more intense, an expert said on Thursday.

The eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier continued to spew large amounts of ash and smoke into the air and showed no signs of abating after 40 hours of activity, said Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland.

"The seismographs are showing that since this morning the intensity of the eruption seems to be growing," he said.

Hot fumes had melted up to a third of the glacial ice covering the crater, causing a nearby river to burst its banks, and frequent explosions on the floor of the crater sounded like bombs going off, he said.

Min wrote: »

The volcanic activity said to be intensifying - RTE news.

Nothing to do with the plume direction though. Flights will go from NI to Scotland from 1AM and the plume is moving eastwards according to Eurocontrol.

As time goes on it appears the 1PM deadline will allow people to fly. How limited that is we don't know. My flight is booked for 8:40PM but I could be put into a lengthy queue with the backlog.

projectmayhem wrote: »

Nothing to do with the plume direction though. Flights will go from NI to Scotland from 1AM and the plume is moving eastwards according to Eurocontrol.

As time goes on it appears the 1PM deadline will allow people to fly. How limited that is we don't know. My flight is booked for 8:40PM but I could be put into a lengthy queue with the backlog.

How does that work anyway? Are you sure you'd be bumped for other passengers? Do passengers who had flights cancelled not have to take the next available seat? Your booked seat isn't available to them...I don't think.

I wouldn't be entirely sure about the way this thing will move or its repercussions for flights yet. If there is a reprieve as the high pressure moves more east it mightn't be very long lived looking at the forecast...airflow is to go more northerly again over the weekend, bringing air right down from iceland (according to the bit in the news report). If that were the case and the volcano was still erupting at that point there might only be a window of opportunity for flights if the dust moves sufficiently east in the shorter term. Whether it moves east 'enough' is another question too - a fairly wide area of proximity around the dust has been affected today so...it may go more east, but will it go east enough to open flights into London and the continent?

LookingFor wrote: »

How does that work anyway? Are you sure you'd be bumped for other passengers? Do passengers who had flights cancelled not have to take the next available seat? Your booked seat isn't available to them...I don't think.

I've no idea. I'm flying home with Ryanair so there's no point in even trying to ask them. I would assume my seat is safe regardless and extra flights will be booked overnight on typically quiet times.

The benefit of Ryanair is they've no regard for safety and will dump a plane in the sky regardless so I'll get home grand. I've no fear of flying so I'd pay for them to get to 30,000ft to wreck the engines and glide back to Dublin

LookingFor wrote: »

I wouldn't be entirely sure about the way this thing will move or its repercussions for flights yet. If there is a reprieve as the high pressure moves more east it mightn't be very long lived looking at the forecast...airflow is to go more northerly again over the weekend, bringing air right down from iceland (according to the bit in the news report). If that were the case and the volcano was still erupting at that point there might only be a window of opportunity for flights if the dust moves sufficiently east in the shorter term. Whether it moves east 'enough' is another question too - a fairly wide area of proximity around the dust has been affected today so...it may go more east, but will it go east enough to open flights into London and the continent?

I'm going by what the UK air traffic guys and Eurocontrol are saying. They reckon the plume is moving easterly and flights can resume (all flights) at 1PM tomorrow. UK air traffic guys (NATS) put out a statement saying they "should" be able to allow flights at 1PM. Their info comes from weather and the plane they sent up to check the ash at 8PM. They're allowing flights from NI to Scotland from 1AM which is a good sign.

I have a feeling that they may allow flights to pass into/out of UK airspace at low altitudes since the dangerous ash is at about 30,000ft and planes can fly at decent speed at only 3,000ft. Easy work for domestic flights and ones going to/from Ireland.

It's all very wishy-washy with info but I'm holding onto my hope

owenc wrote: »

i dont give a **** what you lot think i can report you. You cant get me banned this time.

Owen you really are one angry 14 year old

Hope you look back at these posts in years ahead and laugh your head off

In south east Galway and there is grey ash on my car now

From Icelandic news.....


Breaking news: Another large flood, evacuation ordered

Posted on 15 April 2010.

Flood waters are striking the Fljotshlid area near the Eyjafjallajokull glacier. This flood is said to be much bigger and faster than yesterday’s and people in that area of South Iceland are being told to evacuate immediately.

The flood water contains large chunks of ice and roads and bridges south of the glacier are in serious danger of destruction.

http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/04/15/breaking-news-another-large-flood-evacuation-ordered/

alibabba wrote: »

In south east Galway and there is grey ash on my car now

Pics?