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Satellite images of ash spewing from Iceland's volcano
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April 2010
Satellites image of ash spewing from Iceland's volcano
Thousands of planes are grounded across Europe due to the spread of volcanic ash following the recent eruption under Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier. Volcanic eruptions eject large amounts of ash and trace gases such as sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, often reaching the altitudes of scheduled flights. When flying through a volcanic ash cloud, ash particles enter the jet engines which can result in engine failure. The ash can also severely damage the material of the aircraft, clog its sensors, limit the view of its pilots, and severely scratch, or 'sandblast', cockpit windows, landing light covers and parts of the tail and wings.
The Canadian Space Agency is a cooperating member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and contributed to the development of Envisat Earth Observation (EO) satellite. During the development of Envisat, ABB Bomem of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, developed software to allow the selection and generation of the MERIS instrument products.
In this image acquired by the Envisat (MERIS instrument) Earth observation (EO) satellite on April 19 2010, a heavy plume of ash from the Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano is seen travelling in a roughly southeasterly direction. The volcano has been emitting steam and ash since its recent eruptions began on 20 March, and as observable, the emissions continue. The plume, visible in brownish-grey, is approximately 400 km long.
Credit: ESA, 2010.
This image was acquired on 15 April 2010 by Envisat (MERIS) and shows the vast cloud of volcanic ash sweeping across the UK from the eruption in Iceland, more than 1000 km away. The ash, which can be seen as the large grey streak in the image, is drifting from west to east at a height of about 11 km above the surface Earth.
Credit: ESA, 2010.
This Envisat (MERIS) image of 22 February 2010 shows cloud-free, snow-covered Iceland
before the eruption of the volcano.
Credit: ESA, 2010.
For more information please contact
guy.aube@asc-csa.gc.ca.
Reference: ESA news, 2010.
For more information on the GRIP Program:
www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/programs/grip/default.asp
