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Satellites Keep Aircraft Away From Volcanic Cloud
coondoggie writes "A range of satellites from a host of different nations are pumping out images and data on the Icelandic volcano currently wreaking havoc on commercial airline traffic and aviation in general. The European Space Agency today noted four major satellites that are monitoring the volcano that erupted this week under Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier. They include NASA's Aqua and Aura as well as the European Space Agency's Envisat and MetOp spacecraft. Other satellites such as NASA's Terra and NOAA's GOES satellite also provide images." Updated 20100416 01:17 GMT by timothy: Apropos that, 2Y9D57 writes with this "Image of the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, after it began erupting on 15 April. Acquired by the German TerraSAR-X synthetic aperture radar satellite from a height of about 500 kilometers / 300 miles."
The four major satellites that are providing key information on the European Space Agency today noted four major satellites that are monitoring the volcano that erupted this week under Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier.
Quality editing there timothy.
Huh... the four major satellites are noting four major satellites? That's a bit of tautological recursion.
I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
Ok seriously where does this name come from
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I for one welcome our Space Agency information providing, meta satellite overlords.
The four major satellites that are providing key information on the European Space Agency today noted four major satellites that are monitoring the volcano that erupted this week under Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier
How many planes saved from the ash will run into one of the satellites.
The next time why someone asks why we should fund space exploration as opposed to simply spending money trying to feed starving people it might be good to point this out (along with weather prediction/mapping capabilities/etc.).
Without these satellites, there would be no way to communicate where the cloud is:
Pilot: So where is this eruption at?
Control: I'm sorry, I've talked to the other three guys here and we don't have a clue how to pronounce the name of this glacier. I don't think we can help you. Good luck!
My webcomic
Behold! Bow under the wrath of Loki, heretics! Renounce your faith from the far lands and return to truthfull ways of your ancestors!
(Loki the trickster; those are just tricks, you haven't seen nothing yet...)
One that hath name thou can not otter
So I guess the /. question is can we see their raw feeds?
NASA Aqua
NASA Aura
NASA's Terra
European Space Agency's Envisat
European Space Agency's MetOp
NOAA's GOES: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
- http://www.goes.noaa.gov/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_Operational_Environmental_Satellite
Space research always pays for itself in the long term. The acronyms in the NOAA GOES got me interested.
At what density is volcanic ash dangerous to aircraft turbines and what is the damage mechanism? On the satellite images, it looks like the air space south of Scotland was only peripherally affected by the plume coming from the volcano. I wonder if the widely dispersed ash is really that much of a problem.
Satellites Keep Aircraft Away From Volcanic Cloud
I didn't realize satellites could fly so low, let alone herd airplanes like sheep. Amazing what they can do these days...
Authority questions you. Return the favor.
Eyjafjallajoekull - Looks like TECO editor command.
[Ah, those were the days...]
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single.php?T101061035
Anyone have a link to some of the better pics of the ash explosion? There was a great thumbnail sized pic that was circulating on all the news stories when it first erupted but nobody's seen the high res original yet. Post cool, high res ash explosion pics in your replies. Thanks!
moox. for a new generation.
apropos [ap-ruh-poh]
–adverb
1. fitting; at the right time; to the purpose; opportunely.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43670
I think something is wrong about it, these clouds are at 2000 feet
Planes can fly lower then 2000 feet, just keep aware of rain (but its pretty far from Iceland so its pretty diluted).
In the US, NOAA/National Weather Service will run plume models during events like these, but for an area of responsibility over the US, Pacific, Alaska, South America and others. Apparently the UKMet/EuroControl has responsibility for the Atlantic so I assume they do something similar. The data from these sats are using to start off the models and also help verify the results of the model runs. The science of these models and results are held somewhat closely since they could provide information to bad guys but are likely what is being used to route planes and close off airspace.
The BBC said the 1783 eruption killed tens of thousands and caused a mini ice age -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8624791.stm. If that happened today, it could, at least, shutdown air travel for months and maybe even reverse global warming (while killing tens of thousands). Such a deal.
I also remember some Congress person complaining about the government paying for volcano research. I think they were from Louisiana or Mississippi and they laughed at what a waste of money it is for their citizens to pay to study volcanoes. Don't we already know everything about them anyway?
Well, sir, this is why. If a volcano blows, it affects more than its immediate neighbors.
We are forbidden to burn rubbish in our gardens in case the ash destroys the ozone layer or whatever. Anybody have any stats as to the eco-damage those pesky icelanders are doing with their volcano?
They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
All major airports have CAT III ILS so the autopilot can perform the landing until the aircraft should be taxied off the runway. At that point there will obviously be some difficulties and it will take longer but the landing itself will just be a routine zero visibility landing.
Whatever! Just more wasteful liberal big brother socialist commie spending money on stuff that's obvious.
Just ask my main man Bobby Jindal.
Humm... it seems like we are seeing an increase in earthquakes and now a volcano. I wonder if it has anything to do with melting glaciers and polar ice caps. Seems like, as the ice melts its weight is shifted from the ice to the oceans. As sea levels rise, increased weight is applied to continental shelves and tectonic plates and weight is decreased where the ice was. I wonder if this could cause the plates to shift. Also, if volcanoes spew more sulfur, etc. into the atmosphere there could be a cooling effect. I don't recall hearing anyone mention that global warming might cause geologic shifts. Maybe that will be the most immediate consequence? What do you think??
It's a complete kneejerk reaction. I know some of our neighbouring countries have had a more sensible lockdown of airspace, but in Denmark the entire FIR was shut down for all airspace users. Since Thursday. Never mind the fact that quite a few of the airspace users would be completely unaffected flying in this weather, just as they would be unaffected if some dust was hurled up from the ground.
Could someone please show me a good reason why short distance low level VFR helicopter traffic, landing practices for prop-pilots, all glider activity (no engine!), all paraglider activity (no engine, no instruments!), and all balloon activity should be shut down when the national met-office has issued no warnings about dangerous weather?
The VFR forecast says "jolly nice weather for flying. Note: Airspace is closed"
VFR forecast:
http://tinyurl.com/y6m3kay
Quote:
Weather: no significant.
I'm wondering if journalists and bloggers are finding they have to disable their catlike-typing detection software everytime they need to input the word "Eyjafjallajökull".
n/t