Eruption of Iceland Volcano Closes Airports in UK

Iceland Volcano Erupts closing UK airspace

by Pompeii Tours on April 15, 2010

Today the news broke of a major volcanic eruption in Iceland. This eruption reminds us of the Volcano Vesuvius that covered over Pompeii in AD79. Here is a short video clip

This is producing a high-altitude cloud of ash drifting an erupting volcano in Iceland and has closed airports in northern Europe including the entire UK airspace. All flights in the UK have been canceled because the debris in the upper stratosphere of volcanic ash contains silicates, or glass fibers, which can cause problems for jet engines by melting, causing them to flame and stall.

The ash is coming from an eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, located near a glacier of the same name (pronounced, AYA-feeyapla-yurkul) in southern Iceland, began erupting last month for the first time in nearly 200 years.

The following videos shows the effects of drifting debris

The Iceland Review reports that this is not likely to subside soon.

There is nothing to indicate that the eruption is about to subside. The cloud of smoke rising from the volcano’s summit turns black every now and then, resulting in ash fall. The winds blow the ash towards the east. The cloud reaches a height of six to eight kilometers and drifts across the ocean to other countries, disturbing air traffic.

The last time this eruption happened 189 years ago, it took 18 months to subside.