mick silver
17th April 2010, 01:11 PM
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2010/volcano.html ... Icelandic volcano eruption
Last updated: 1300 on Saturday, 17 April 2010
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano is still erupting, and possibly intensifying, with the ash plume rising to 30,000 feet. Evidence of ash dust over the UK is being detected by Met Office observations and there are reports of dust reaching the ground.
The Met Office commissioned NERC research flight flew over the North Sea on Friday afternoon and detected 3 distinct layers of ash, from fine particles at low levels to large particles around 8,000 feet.
All these observations are consistent with our forecast plumes for where the ash cloud would spread and how it would mix through the atmosphere.
The Met Office is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Air Traffic Services (NATS), and because of the worsening volcanic activity UK airspace has now been closed until 1am Sunday. We continue to look for weather windows that will allow air space restrictions to be lifted.
We are also liaising with Health Protection Scotland and the Health Protection Agency and dust collected at Lerwick and Aberdeen has been analysed by Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Preliminary analysis has shown that the properties of the particles appear to be consistent with the properties of volcanic ash, but further more detailed analysis is being undertaken.
Decisions on flights and airline movement is controlled by NATS. The Met Office is unable to advise of any details of any flights. However, many airlines are providing information on their websites.
We will continue to produce forecasts of the ash cloud and will assess the impact over the weekend in consultations with CAA and NATS.
Representation of an advisory chart
Fig. 1 is an illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 1 pm on 17 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.
Icelandic volcano pictures and blog
•Picture gallery including the latest satellite imagery
•Map of dust observations
•Forecasters’ blog
As one of only two World Area Forecast Centres, we regularly advise the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Air Traffic Services.
Our forecasters monitor volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office's role in the global network of nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres.
Volcanic ash can be dangerous for aircraft, causing damage, reducing visibility, and potentially clogging engines.
Our Environment Monitoring and Response Centre is constantly monitoring the Iceland area. Our first advisory was issued at 1400 on 14 April and they have subsequently been updated every six hours.
Useful links
British Geological Survey
Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres
How we forecast volcanic ash
Health Protection Scotland
Health Protection Agency
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
National Air Traffic Services (NATS
Last updated: 1300 on Saturday, 17 April 2010
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano is still erupting, and possibly intensifying, with the ash plume rising to 30,000 feet. Evidence of ash dust over the UK is being detected by Met Office observations and there are reports of dust reaching the ground.
The Met Office commissioned NERC research flight flew over the North Sea on Friday afternoon and detected 3 distinct layers of ash, from fine particles at low levels to large particles around 8,000 feet.
All these observations are consistent with our forecast plumes for where the ash cloud would spread and how it would mix through the atmosphere.
The Met Office is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Air Traffic Services (NATS), and because of the worsening volcanic activity UK airspace has now been closed until 1am Sunday. We continue to look for weather windows that will allow air space restrictions to be lifted.
We are also liaising with Health Protection Scotland and the Health Protection Agency and dust collected at Lerwick and Aberdeen has been analysed by Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Preliminary analysis has shown that the properties of the particles appear to be consistent with the properties of volcanic ash, but further more detailed analysis is being undertaken.
Decisions on flights and airline movement is controlled by NATS. The Met Office is unable to advise of any details of any flights. However, many airlines are providing information on their websites.
We will continue to produce forecasts of the ash cloud and will assess the impact over the weekend in consultations with CAA and NATS.
Representation of an advisory chart
Fig. 1 is an illustration of volcanic ash dispersion up to 20,000 ft, issued at 1 pm on 17 April. Advisory charts are issued every six hours, for up to 18 hours ahead, by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.
Icelandic volcano pictures and blog
•Picture gallery including the latest satellite imagery
•Map of dust observations
•Forecasters’ blog
As one of only two World Area Forecast Centres, we regularly advise the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Air Traffic Services.
Our forecasters monitor volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office's role in the global network of nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres.
Volcanic ash can be dangerous for aircraft, causing damage, reducing visibility, and potentially clogging engines.
Our Environment Monitoring and Response Centre is constantly monitoring the Iceland area. Our first advisory was issued at 1400 on 14 April and they have subsequently been updated every six hours.
Useful links
British Geological Survey
Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres
How we forecast volcanic ash
Health Protection Scotland
Health Protection Agency
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
National Air Traffic Services (NATS