View Full Version : Volcano Ash Cloud
A very good friend of our family was injured by an IED while serving with his Army unit in Iraq, last week. He is on hold now to fly to Ft. Cambell due to this event. Hope it is not causing any other major problems for the military...
Holly
Volcano Ash Cloud Flight Disruptions Worsen In Europe: Italy Closes Airspace
PAISLEY DODDS and SYLVIA HUI | 04/17/10 12:53 PM |
A lingering volcanic ash plume forced extended no-fly restrictions over much of Europe on Saturday, as scientists warned that activity at a volcano in Iceland had increased and showed no sign of abating – a portent of more travel chaos to come.
Scientists say that because the volcano is situated below a glacial ice cap, the magma is being cooled quickly, causing explosions and plumes of grit that can be catastrophic to plane engines if prevailing winds are right.
"The activity has been quite vigorous overnight, causing the eruption column to grow," Icelandic geologist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told The Associated Press on Saturday. "It's the magma mixing with the water that creates the explosivity. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight."
An expansive cloud of grit hovered over parts of western Europe on Saturday, triggering extended flight bans that stranded people around the globe. Forecasters said light prevailing winds in Europe – and large amounts of unmelted glacial ice above the volcano – mean that the situation is unlikely to change in the coming days.
"Currently the U.K. and much of Europe is under the influence of high pressure, which means winds are relatively light and the dispersal of the cloud is slow," said Graeme Leitch, a meteorologist at Britain's National Weather Service. "We don't expect a great deal of change over the next few days."
Matthew Roberts, at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, said only about a third of the total quantity of glacial ice in the crater has melted. "There could be days' worth of water and ice mixed with the eruptive products," he told the BBC.
The ash plume was rising to about 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) with intensifying volcanic activity, Leitch said. It is possible for planes to fly over the ash cloud, he said, although it is up to individual countries to decide whether they should open higher airspace.
Aviation experts say the volcanic plume has caused the worst travel disruption Europe – and the world – has ever seen, except during wars.
"I've been flying for 40 years, but I've never seen anything like this in Europe," said Swedish pilot Axel Alegren, after landing his flight from Kabul, Afghanistan, at Munich Airport; he had been due to land at Frankfurt but was diverted.
read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/17/volcano-ash-cloud-flight-_n_541489.html
GratefulCitizen
04-17-2010, 13:07
The CO2 released by the volcano will probably push Iceland over their Kyoto limits.
Where's al gore?
Something must be done about this global warming outrage.
wandering_idiot
04-17-2010, 13:36
Well, there are a lot of people waiting for this thing to pass so we can get on with our lives.
I'm working an extra week because I can't get home and my relief can't get here. My brother is 'stuck' in Eastern Europe because of this too.
I'm sure there are quite a few trying to get home from Germany (i.e. Landstuhl).
I was told that the last time thing erupted, it erupted for two years(1821 to 1823).
I wonder how that will effect the EU if the cloud keeps spreading like it is.
mojaveman
04-17-2010, 13:45
Talk about bad luck.
It couldn't have happened at a worse time. First their financial based economy collapses and now they're suffering from the fallout of a volcanic eruption. The rest of Europe is going to suffer economic consequences as well because of all of the lost airline business.
When it rains it pours...
It's really awful. My SIL's brother died and his son is stuck in Germany. I really feel badly for him.
Good luck to everyone who has to get somewhere.
incarcerated
04-17-2010, 19:38
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=69398
Volcanic ash grounds some military flights, diverts others
By Kent Harris and Jennifer Svan, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, April 17, 2010
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Hovering debris from an Icelandic volcano kept U.S. military flights in Europe on the ground for a second-straight day Friday, slowing troop and supply transport to the war zones and diverting some medical evacuation flights.
Ramstein Air Base in Germany, normally the busiest military hub on the continent, had recently boosted flights into and out of Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s order for 30,000 additional troops there.
Flights headed downrange, needing to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the States, are “at a halt,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Dryjanski, 86th Operations Group deputy commander at Ramstein.
For aircraft moving between Europe and Afghanistan, a southern route through Spain and the Mediterranean is still open, he said.
Naval Station Rota and Moron Air Base in Spain are seeing about twice the flights they normally do, according to Navy Lt. Ben Tisdale.
All flights and heavy-lift aircraft operations into and out of Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, have also been postponed due to the volcanic ash, said base spokeswoman Air Force 2nd Lt. Kathleen Polesnak.
About half the additional airlift missions tied to the buildup in Afghanistan were to route through Ramstein and Spangdahlem, Air Force officials announced earlier this year.
European aviation officials said that, since the ash cloud was moving slowly, all civilian flights are expected to be disrupted at least through Saturday. Air Force officials said they would be monitoring the situation, and altering routes depending where the ash cloud moves.
All medical flights headed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had ceased as well, said Navy Cmdr. Glen Crawford, officer-in-charge of Landstuhl’s Deployed Warrior Medical Management Center. The hospital is normally the first stop for American troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the ash cloud means such flights will be diverted to the U.S.
So far, one medical evacuation flight from downrange has been re-routed directly to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, said Navy Capt. Kevin Aandahl, a spokesman for U.S. Transportation Command.
Upon landing, the patients were to be taken directly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“The patients will continue to get the same level of care,” Crawford said. “The only difference is the patients who have to be moved out of theater will have a longer flight.”
A flight set to bring patients from Landstuhl to the States on Friday was canceled.
The two main U.S. military bases in England, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, also were at a standstill.
Lt. Col. David Iverson, deputy chief of the 48th Operations Group at Lakenheath, said the base’s fleet of F-15s were all inside protective shelters. The move is precautionary, because there was no ash falling on the ground that might make its way into the jets’ engines.
The bases have aircraft participating in exercises in the Netherlands and Germany that have been put on hold. Both Brilliant Ardent and Frisian Flag are scheduled to run through Thursday and Air Force officials believe they’ll resume some time next week.
Troops who flew away from their homes in England to celebrate spring break with their children were looking at other modes of transportation to get back home, according to Claire Fadden, who works at the Sato travel office at Lakenheath.
“People have been stuck in various locations around Europe and are trying to take the train or other forms of transportation,” she said. “We’re trying to help as best we can.”
The passenger terminal at Ramstein was also open, though it, too, was nearly deserted Friday.
A few soldiers trying to get Afghanistan were optimistically signing up for military flights on Saturday.
“They’re hoping to get us out tomorrow but it looks kind of shaky,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Edison, 44, who was headed to Kandahar after a weeks-long medical convalescence at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Headed the opposite direction was Army 2nd Lt. Katie Ray, 24, a member of a North Dakota guard unit who was trying to get home to Ann Arbor, Mich., to see her family. Ray and more than a dozen fellow soldiers were stranded at Ramstein en route to the States from Kosovo.
“We were supposed to have two weeks of leave [before going back to Kosovo], but it keeps getting shorter,” she said.
Stars and Stripes reporters Geoff Ziezulewicz, Seth Robbins, Jeff Schogol, and Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this report.
I hope the ash cloud forecasts are as bad as the weather forecasts.
Our youngest is getting married in June in Italy:
tickets are purchased
reservation made
band booked
church secured
bar resupply(s) scheduled
gown fitted
bank account emptied
bags are being packed..
The worry is on... :eek::confused::mad::rolleyes:
The CO2 released by the volcano will probably push Iceland over their Kyoto limits.
Where's al gore?
Something must be done about this global warming outrage.
One could argue that the eruption is serving to do what the green movement could not: That is, to force us to give our skies a chance to breath and take a break from all the UNnatural emissions released by the thousands of aircraft that constantly grace our skies.
JJ_BPK, I am not a betting person, but the cloud should have dispersed by June. Hope your plans will be unaffected.
They are already sending out test flights (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8628323.stm) and resuming routes where possible. My flight to Europe just got the green light. Should probably pack extra though :(
rubberneck
04-18-2010, 12:18
One could argue that the eruption is serving to do what the green movement could not: That is, to force us to give our skies a chance to breath and take a break from all the UNnatural emissions released by the thousands of aircraft that constantly grace our skies.
Who cares if it is natural or unnatural? If CO2 is the danger all these green nitwits claim it is than the temporary respite from European flights pales in comparison to the amount of CO2 released in this one event.
One could argue that the eruption is serving to do what the green movement could not: That is, to force us to give our skies a chance to breath and take a break from all the UNnatural emissions released by the thousands of aircraft that constantly grace our skies.
brown77,
Well, guess I am just glad this type of thinking wasn't around during WWII.:rolleyes: Uggh!!!!!!!!!!
Rubberneck, You nailed it!
JJ, Congrats on the wedding!!! Your mise en place is ready, so think positive!!! :lifter
Holly
And p.s.....Our friend made it to Cambell yesterday, so there is hope!
Red Flag 1
04-19-2010, 04:18
Currently in the UK. 18 APR 2010 flight to US cancelled. No Idea when we will be able to return to the CONUS. Staying in Ashford and the weather has been just great, clear skys and warm temps, no local evdence of volcanic ash here. Last bit of news here was that the British Navy is dispatching some her ships to pick up stranded Brits.
I'll keep you psoted as best I can.
RF 1
Currently in the UK. 18 APR 2010 flight to US cancelled. No Idea when we will be able to return to the CONUS. Staying in Ashford and the weather has been just great, clear skys and warm temps, no local evdence of volcanic ash here. Last bit of news here was that the British Navy is dispatching some her ships to pick up stranded Brits.
I'll keep you psoted as best I can.
RF 1
If your in London, check out this club.
Special Forces Club
8 Herbert Crescent,
London, SW1,
Tel: 0171 589 9483,
Terry Message Club Sec.,
Robert Cowell Historical Sect.
There is not sign of the door, You need to call before going. It's about 3 block East of Harrod's, in a residential area.
I stumbled on it last year while looking for a friends address. Not sure who can get in, but I think there is a visitors status. Let us know if you get in.
I will be in London in June and was planning to look up the place.
Red Flag 1
04-19-2010, 05:50
If your in London, check out this club.
Special Forces Club
8 Herbert Crescent,
London, SW1,
Tel: 0171 589 9483,
Terry Message Club Sec.,
Robert Cowell Historical Sect.
There is not sign of the door, You need to call before going. It's about 3 block East of Harrod's, in a residential area.
I stumbled on it last year while looking for a friends address. Not sure who can get in, but I think there is a visitors status. Let us know if you get in.
I will be in London in June and was planning to look up the place.
Thanks JJ!
About 90 min SE of London, near Dover. If I'm here more than a few days, I'll call and visit. I do have my SFA membership card with me.
RF 1
I hope the ash cloud forecasts are as bad as the weather forecasts.
Our youngest is getting married in June in Italy:
tickets are purchased
reservation made
band booked
church secured
bar resupply(s) scheduled
gown fitted
bank account emptied
bags are being packed..
The worry is on...
JJ
Time to get the boat out and start heading east..... Might make it by June...;):eek::p
Seriously it should be clear by then I HOPE.....
Thanks JJ!
About 90 min SE of London, near Dover. If I'm here more than a few days, I'll call and visit. I do have my SFA membership card with me.
RF 1
It's worth the trip if you're an OSS buff - they have a lot of out-of-print books, diaries, etc. in the library. The food is pretty poor, though, so I would eat before leaving London and just enjoy drinks there.
JJ
Time to get the boat out and start heading east..... Might make it by June...
Seriously it should be clear by then I HOPE.....
With the proper incentive,, We will be there... :eek::eek::eek::eek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qact3tARlm0
greenberetTFS
04-19-2010, 10:46
JJ,
Congrats to you and your family on your youngest getting married.........:D:D:D
Big Teddy :munchin
Red Flag 1
04-19-2010, 12:36
JJ,
Congrats to you and your family on your youngest getting married.........:D:D:D
Big Teddy :munchin
As Big Teddy said, Congrats!!
JJ.
Special Forces Club London phone number has changed; 0207-589-9483. Spoke with "Secretary"; details via pm.
RF 1
JJ,
Congrats to you and your family on your youngest getting married.........
Big Teddy :munchin
Thanks you Teddy,, et all. Just hope by June the dollar to euro strengthens to something less than 10 to 1..
The stories to follow...
:D:D
mojaveman
04-19-2010, 15:06
Thanks you Teddy,, et all. Just hope by June the dollar to euro strengthens to something less than 10 to 1..
The stories to follow...
:D:D
I can remember when you could get 3 Deutsche Marks for a dollar. Now those were the days.
MackallResident
04-19-2010, 17:24
On another note, good on the Air Evacuation cells DOD wide, they are diverting flights to LRMC instead from (Theater) through another point in europe(for OPSEC reasons) to their final points at stage 5 facilities stateside.
Red Flag 1
04-20-2010, 13:46
It's worth the trip if you're an OSS buff - they have a lot of out-of-print books, diaries, etc. in the library. The food is pretty poor, though, so I would eat before leaving London and just enjoy drinks there.
Food at the Special Forcse Club mirrors the food of the UK! IMHO.
RF 1
Green Light
04-20-2010, 14:54
Now that can't be good.
The Brits are the only people in the world that wherever they go on vacation, the food and the weather will ALWAYS be better than at home. :D
I was in Tuscany (Borgo Pretaccione near San Sano approx 18 km NE of Siena) when the Iclandic volcanic activity began. Our flight back to the US on 4-18 was a 'GO' and we were sitting on the runway awaiting takeoff from Rome when Spanish airspace closed and they closed Athens, Rome, and Madrid. Rome reopened on 4-21 but - due to the backlog - we were unable to get out until yesterday (4-23) on an Air Iberia flight from Rome to Madrid and then an AA flight from Madrid to DFW.
People who could afford it were booking flights South to the ME and then going East through China/Japan or SW through LA to get back to the USA. Worst off were the Europeans who were either diverted or stuck outside Europe. Trains were full of those trying to get South to an airport and hotels were filled. There was a 6 hour wait to even have the opportunity to book a train ticket at FCO (Rome) on 4-18 due to the backlog/demand/and numbers. We saw that 'gouging' for taxis/rooms/food around transportation centers was common place during that time - a taxi wanted to charge me 75 Euro for a ride to my hotel which was 15 km from FCO and I knew was normally a 20 Euro ride - the taxi driver got irate when, in front of the other drivers, I told him exactly and in rather crude language what I thought of him and his attempt to gouge me - the other drivers laughed and another stepped forward and took us to the hotel for the normal 20 Euro (a female who was doing 170 km/h - 107 mph - enroute and apologizing for only having an Alfa-Romeo and not a Ferrari).
For us, the unplanned six days in Rome were put to good use as it was 'Culture Week' and all state museums were free.
One interesting aside to this whole affair IMO will be the 'political fallout' from the fight which is now on-going between the airlines (some of which are government owned) and the various national and EU governmental agencies which forced the airlines to suspend their operations and cost tens of billions of global revenue losses.
And so it goes...
Richard
greenberetTFS
04-24-2010, 11:18
I can remember when you could get 3 Deutsche Marks for a dollar. Now those were the days.
When I was there in 1956 it was 41/2 to 1............;)
Big Teddy :munchin
Green Light
04-24-2010, 11:20
Welcome back. There are worse places to be stuck. It's not often when you get to turn a problem into a cultural feast.
Were there any alternatives through Africa - South America - North America?
Some incredible pictures taken locally during the eruption.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html
Red Flag 1
05-01-2010, 05:46
My delay was ten days extra in the UK. Stayed with my daughter and her family, so we were most fortunate to have seen no hardship. The ten days were some of the best UK weather I have every seen. The downside was that British TV broadcasts are about as bad as the food:boohoo.
RF 1
The downside was that British TV broadcasts are about as bad as the food:boohoo.
Agree about the food, agree to disagree about the TV... guess it's an acquired taste ;)
Not sure if planes were flying low to avoid the ash cloud, but I had some amazing views on my travels last week. Did anybody else notice that? Perhaps it was simply a bout of very clear weather over Europe.
Red Flag 1
05-01-2010, 07:22
Agree about the food, agree to disagree about the TV... guess it's an acquired taste ;)
Not sure if planes were flying low to avoid the ash cloud, but I had some amazing views on my travels last week. Did anybody else notice that? Perhaps it was simply a bout of very clear weather over Europe.
My flight was at 38,000. Very hard approach and landing @ IAD. Been some time since I've seen barf bags at the ready and used. :munchin
RF 1
Dozer523
05-01-2010, 08:12
What a bunch is tea-drinkin', croissant-eatin', spaghetti-slurpin', wooden shoe cloggin' wussies.
Wanna talk Volcanos? Who remembers Mt St. Helen?
CATACLYSMIC ERUPTION
May 18, 1980
Within 15 to 20 seconds of a magnitude 5.1 earthquake at 8:32 a.m., the volcano's bulge and summit slid away in a huge landslide - the largest on Earth in recorded history. The landslide depressurized the volcano's magma system, triggering powerful explosions that ripped through the sliding debris. Rocks, ash, volcanic gas, and steam were blasted upward and outward to the north. This lateral blast of hot material accelerated to at least 300 miles per hour, then slowed as the rocks and ash fell to the ground and spread away from the volcano; several people escaping the blast on its western edge were able to keep ahead of the advancing cloud by driving 65 to 100 miles an hour! The blast cloud traveled as far as 17 miles northward from the volcano and the landslide traveled about 14 miles west down the North Fork Toutle River.
The lateral blast produced a column of ash and gas (eruption column) that rose more than 15 miles into the atmosphere in only 15 minutes. Less than an hour later, a second eruption column formed as magma erupted explosively from the new crater. Then, beginning just after noon, swift avalanches of hot ash, pumice, and gas (pyroclastic flows) poured out of the crater at 50 to 80 miles per hour and spread as far as 5 miles to the north. Based on the eruption rate of these pyroclastic flows, scientists estimate that the eruption reached its peak between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Over the course of the day, prevailing winds blew 520 million tons of ash eastward across the United States and caused complete darkness in Spokane, Washington, 250 miles from the volcano. Source : http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/