Volcanic Ash From Iceland Volcano Heading To Uk

The Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland awoke from its slumber and began to rumble forth with clouds of smoke. While the eruption spewing forth is a large one, initially it was only expected to cause minimal air travel disruption, however that has been modified. Primarily the initial interruption was localized to Iceland domestic travel and the Iceland International Airport being shut down since Sunday. At the outset flights going through Iceland’s airspace were diverted south. However as Grimsvotn continues to emit ash, the clouds are steadily moving towards UK airspace. Late Monday, the BBC reported flights in and out of Scotland were canceled and were not expected to resume in Glasgow and Edinburgh until approximately the lunch hours on Tuesday; other affected airports may not open until Wednesday. Airlines canceling flights included BA, KLM, Easyjet, Flybe, Loganair, Aer Lingus and Eastern Airways. According to the LA Times Virgin Atlantic and Finnair are monitoring the volcanic activity and, for the time being, are keeping flights as scheduled. Eurocontrol had extended the possibility of closures to Ireland and is providing periodic updates on their website as the volcanic activity and weather conditions progress. The agency stated “Due to unstable meteorological conditions, it is not possible to identify with certainty the movements of the ash cloud beyond that time frame.” As of right now how Grimsvotn’s eruption will affect European air space is not completely known. The Guardian reported that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said “particles from Grimsvötn could affect transatlantic journeys by reaching western England on Thursday or Friday, depending on wind direction.” New European rules were implemented after last year’s disastrous Eyjafallajokull eruption, and officials state these safety mandates are in place; experts feel these changes will help mitigate any potential negative impacts on air travel which could occur with current volcanic activity happening in Iceland. The Guardian also said “Under the new operating procedures, it is understood that the effect of last year’s plume on commercial routes would have been reduced by 75 percent.” This proactive preparation was designed to minimize disruption and keep air traffic flowing safety and smoothly in UK airspace. These types of business continuity plans put into place can help eliminate and/or diminish problematic interruptions to operations. The Epoch Times reported Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of CAA, stated” Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of people both onboard aircraft and on the ground. We can’t rule out disruption, but the new arrangements that have been put in place since last year’s ash cloud mean the aviation sector is better prepared and will help to reduce any disruption in the event that volcanic ash affects U.K. airspace.” These new safety rules include identifying grades of ash as high, medium, and low-density, and depending upon the type of ash, would help determine which part of the plan is to put into place. This is different from last year’s blanket airplane grounding that occurred last year. Airlines would have to meet special conditions to be permitted to fly, and if these can be met, may be allowed to continue flights as scheduled. The ash spewing from Grimsvotn is larger than the ash from Eyjafallajokull and scientists expect this ash to fall to the ground much more quickly and not remain in the air for lengthy amounts of time. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society