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UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2024-11-22 2:19 |
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2015 Meeting
Section: Atmosphere and Earth Science; Environment Protection
Title:
Study of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash plume affecting Romanian Flight Information Region during 17-19 April, 2010
Authors:
Ana Denisa URLEA (1,2)
Affiliation:
(1) University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, P.O Mg11, Bucharest, Romania
(2) Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration
E-mail
denisaurlea@gmail.com
Keywords:
volcanic ash,air traffic,meteorological conditions
Abstract:
Fimmvorduhals, east part of the Eyjafjallajokull’s ice cap has a small eruption fissure, about only 0,5km long. The main eruption followed on 14 April as an explosive sub-glacial eruption in the caldera beneath the volcano ice cap. Important quantities of silicious ash with fine granulation were transported over airspace of UK and continental Europe, causing the most important disruption of the air traffic in Europe. More than 13 days of chaos in air travel over Europe, affected flights between Europe and the other continents. IATA (International Air Transport) estimated more than 10 million passengers stranded and 148 million euros lose for the worldwide airliners. In Romania flight restriction imposed by EUROCONTROL and IATA at that time, caused a 2 million dollars lose to the Romanian flight company TAROM in only two days. This paper is an exhaustive study over the volcanic ash plume impact on the air traffic region of Romania with its implication on the Romanian National Center of Aeronautical Meteorology (N.C.A.M.) activity. Using the archive of EUMETSAT (European Meteorological Satellites) RGB products, MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) time series for Europe for observation and HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model) reanalysis model output, National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis panel for Europe, GFS (Global Forecasting System) output archive, the presentation is focused on reconstructing and reanalyzing the meteorological conditions and the forecasting issues during the air traffic restrictions. For forecasting guidance is displayed VAAC London advisories and graphics. A plus of analysis is highlighted with simulation images for the ash plume dispersion from the 3D-chemistry-transport-model POLYPHEMUS/DLR. Nicknamed E-15 in American aeronautical informal conversation (as Eyjafjallajökull has 15 letters after first E), the eruption event of 2010 reveals our weaknesses in mitigating this sort of natural hazard. It has revealed the importance of having a deep understanding of the ash plume and its evolution in time in order to prepare an adequate response and keeping air traffic safe.
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