VOLCANO NEWS: Ash cloud path clear thanks to ESA

The European Space Agency has released satellite images showing the path and spread of the ash cloud that is moving across Europe and causing airspace restrictions.

The cloud, produced by eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajoekull in Iceland, has already spread across the Republic of Ireland and the UK. The threat of damage to aircraft engines has meant that virtually all flights are grounded, closing airports in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany and other European countries.

The ash cloud, which is visible as a large grey streak across the satellite image, has drifted from west to east across the European continent, at a height of around 11km above the Earth’s surface. The eruption is the first since 1821, and has already caused flooding in Iceland due to the volcano’s position under the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier.

For more information on the images, visit the ESA website.

Below:Two of the images taken by Envisat’s Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). (20.4.2010) - The top image shows the volcanic ash rising from Eyjafjallajoekullcrater on the south eastern side of Iceland and drifting towards Europe in the east. (15.4.2010) - Image showing the dark grey ash cloud travelling from west to east across Ireland, Scotland and Northern England towards Europe from Iceland. (Images: ESA)

Published: Tuesday, 20th April 2010 by Tom Freeman

Comment on this article

Comments