Volcanic Eruptions: Ash Warnings and Aviation

Volcanic Eruptions - Ash Warnings and Aviation



Last week Iceland experienced yet another volcanic eruption when Grímsvötn beneath their biggest glacier Vatnajökull, started to spew out volcanic ash into the atmosphere. Several flights have been canceled but it is by far not so disruptive as last years Eyjafjallajökull who closed down the entire European airspace.

If you wonder how we use science in decision making and ash warning systems - I warn you it is compicated - you can read this article. I made a special graphics to facilitate the reading. But again, lots of stuff and complicated links here. Aviation in general require all this, so we should be all happy about it.

Volcano seen with InSAR

Longonot Volcano, Kenya



Credit: ESA


Using satellites provides us with stunning new images - and unique information. This is InSAR images of two Kenyan volcanoes in the Great Rift Valley in Africa. If you want to learn how InSAR is being used you can watch the latest episode on Volcanoes at A Green Space - A Green Earth over at the award winning Astrocast.TV.

Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens



With a hat! :-)

Here's my version of the Mount St. Helens devastating reawakening at A Green Space - A Green Earth on Astrocast.TV, an award winning online TV 'station'.

Mount St.Helens Lethal Eruption's 30th Anniversary

This Crater...



Courtesy of NASA

...is basically what was left after Mount St. Helens unbelievable blast in 1980. A dome grew out of this crater in 2004 (image), but you can see how much of the mountain that was just blown off in 1980.
Volcanoes fascinate me! ('transcript' or rather my interpretation of George Clooney's words to Catherine Zeta-Jones in Intolerable Cruelty). :-)

Mount St. Helens erupts - 30 years ago!

Mount St. Helens Erupts 18th May 1980



What a spectacular and devastating disaster this was. It killed more than 50 persons including volcanologist David A Johnston while he was observing the volcano.

Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajokull keep on keeping on...



Credit: NASA


The Icelandic volcano on Eyjafjallajokull simply will not call it at day. New high plumes of ash have been coming our way (Ireland for the most part) again. And there is no sign of this volcano zipping it any time soon.

Looks gorgeous in this color palette taken by EO-1.

Kamchatka: Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice



Yes, thank you! I'll have both! Go Kamchatka!

Volcano Heaven of The Ring of Fire

Volcano Heaven on The Ring of Fire



Credit: ESA

Kamchatka is where all the geophysical action is. Imagine hundreds of volcanoes, gigantic landslides and earthquakes. This is definitely a place to be - if you like earthly action! You might not survive, but that is another story...

Volcano

Manam Volcano




Credit: NASA

Picture Perfect! :-)

Fuji-san

Fuji-san



Magical Mount Fuji.



Credit: NASA

Hawaiian Volcano Seen from Atlantis

STS-125's View of Hawaiian Vog



STS-125 was the crew on Atlantis that fixed the Hubble telescope - and didn't forget about their home; planet Earth! :-)

Volcanic Secrets

Volcanoes: Below the Scenes



Origin of volcano's carbon-based lavas.

Volcanic Eruption of Llaima in Chile

Volcanic Eruptions in Chile




Credit: NASA

"Llaima is one of Chile's largest and most active volcanoes. Two craters at Llaima have been active during historical times, one at the summit and another in the southeast. Since the seventeenth century, observers have recorded frequent eruptions from Llaima, mostly explosive eruptions with some lava flows."

Mt. Edna

Mt. Edna Moves!



Credit: ESA


It is nothing special about a volcano or any part of the planet's crust moving. What is special is the long time series and gorgeous maps they've made. This is looking good science! :-)




Credit: Neri, M., F. Casu, V. Acocella, G. Solaro, S. Pepe, P. Berardino, E. Sansosti, T. Caltabiano, P. Lundgren, and R. Lanari (2009), Deformation and eruptions at Mt. Etna (Italy): A lesson from 15 years of observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L02309, doi:10.1029/2008GL036151, Published: 28 January 2009.

Galileo Mission - Io

Volcanoes on Io



One fine product of the Galileo mission at NASA. For you Hank.

Vulcano Erupts

Kasatochi




No, this is not from some distant planet, nor is it an electronic game from Japan. It is an earthly volcano situated in Alaska. It erupted recently and made all this "noise" in our atmosphere. Do me a favor and click on the images...:-)






Awesomeness!





This is a bribing gift for the next president who knows a good volcano when she sees one.

Volcanoes

Volcano




Photo: Bernhard Edmaier

Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica

Volcanoes, Alaska

Cleveland Volcanoes, Alaska, US. Credit: NASA

Chaiten Volcano

Volcano - ALIVE!



Credit: ESA/Envisat

Chaiten Volcano (Chile) is shown spewing ash and smoke into the air for hundreds of km over Argentina's Patagonia Plateau.

Volcanoes and Climate Change

Volcanoes and Climate



Credit: NASA/JPL

Huaynaputina, Peru erupted around 1600 and caused climate change



As long as I can remember I've heard theories about the effect of volcanoes; climate change, death of dinosaurs etc. It is clear to me that Mother Nature, the planet itself, is capable of creating huge changes. Natural hazards like volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, land slides represent a real danger to large communities. It is also likely that climate can be altered by these vast physical events. We still need to better understand these phenomena as well as to what degree the increased number of humans also can change this planet...

Studies of ancient events are important input for our understanding of the Earth today.

In the case of the Peruvian volcano Huaynaputina in the 1600 it seems it resulted in a climate cooling.

Can't get enough of volcanoes? IntrepidDreamer made an outstanding collection on Earth Day.

Mayon Volcano
Taal Volcano
Mount Makiling
Mount Pinatubo