The Icelandic volcano eruption is keeping much of Europe land-bound. There were more new mini-eruptions Saturday raising concerns of long-term damage to air travel and world trade.
“There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight,” Icelandic geologist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told The Associated Press on Saturday. “The activity has been quite vigorous overnight, causing the eruption column to grow.”
According to some observers. modern Europe has never seen such a travel disruption. Air space from Britain to Ukraine was closed and set to stay that way until Sunday or Monday in some countries. It has already affected airports from New Zealand to San Francisco. Millions of passengers remain stranded with their travel plans foiled or delayed.
With the prospect of days under the cloud of ash, pilots and aviation officials sought to dodge the dangerous grit by adjusting altitude levels.
The planes flew at about 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) – well below their usual altitude – in close coordination with air traffic control.
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, depending on prevailing winds.
“There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight,” Icelandic geologist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told The Associated Press on Saturday. “The activity has been quite vigorous overnight, causing the eruption column to grow.”
According to some observers. modern Europe has never seen such a travel disruption. Air space from Britain to Ukraine was closed and set to stay that way until Sunday or Monday in some countries. It has already affected airports from New Zealand to San Francisco. Millions of passengers remain stranded with their travel plans foiled or delayed.
With the prospect of days under the cloud of ash, pilots and aviation officials sought to dodge the dangerous grit by adjusting altitude levels.
The planes flew at about 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) – well below their usual altitude – in close coordination with air traffic control.
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, depending on prevailing winds.
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