Ash cloud that never was: Volcanic plume over UK only a twentieth of safe-flying limit

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | April 25, 2010 | DAVID ROSE, MATT SANDY and SIMON MCGEE

[Windflier]

"Computers at the Met Office, which earlier forecast a 'barbecue summer' last year and a mild winter for this year, produced a stream of maps predicting the ash would cover a vast area, eventually stretching from Russia to Newfoundland.

But across almost all of it, there was virtually no ash at all, and none visible to satellites."

Now where have we seen people relying on computer modeling to predict atmospheric phenomena that never materialized?

I'm almost sure that it was British scientists that did this before, and the whole thing turned out to be a huge hoax.

It's on the tip of my tongue. Anyone remember?

[Balata]

This is no different than the volcano Iceland had in the early ‘70’s. No flights were affected then and none should have been now.

[Vendome]

Well, you beat me. But, then I am late to this post.

I was heldover....

[Bob]

Bob, there are people who simply refuse to believe that transparent stuff like caustic gas can damage stuff and kill people.

Their view is that if you can't see it, it doesn't exist.

Perhaps I haven't been following the story as closely as I might have - Yours is the first mention that I've seen of caustic fumes emitted by the eruption. While I'd consider that highly likely, the only gas that I've seen mentioned is that dreaded pollutant, planet-killing CO₂. :=)

Do you have any details as to the composition and concentrations of the other gasses produced?

[DoughtyOne]

It does make you wonder what’s going on doesn’t it. Thanks for the mention.

[Windflier]

20-20 hindside vision.

[1010RD]

GIGO

[Balata]

Yes it does. It also make you wonder why Windflier did that post. ;^)

[Windflier]

It also make you wonder why Windflier did that post. ;^)

I'm a sucker for an opening like the one SmartInsight gave me. I get my wife on her gaffes all the time.

[Daffynition]

We did too. It was amazing. All the cars were covered in ash ...all the way to the east coast.

[healy61]

I am wondering if there were significant planes grounded when Mt. Pinatubo erupted? I don’t recall hearing about it.

[razorback-bert]

[al baby]

Thats my wifes car

[Jack Hydrazine]

The Icelandic volcano, Katla, should have a follow up eruption within about six months.

That one will make this recent eruption look like a walk in the park. Maybe then Europe will be justified in shutting down their airspace.

[cogitator]

Well, it looked pretty serious from space:

This is 1/4-size; click for full-size.

[rfp1234]

While money has been thrown at climate change studies - the Met Office has received over £200million - other meteorological research has been starved of funds.

That sums it up well.

[SmartInsight]

I know how to spell, but sometimes my fingers don’t. ;)

[dixiechick2000]

Thankfully, we don’t do that here...as of now, anyway. We leave it up to the individual pilots to decide using their computers in the planes.

This was totally needless, and totally socialistic...just like their computer “models” for AGW.

[Windflier]

I know, but that opening was too good to resist.

[donna]

I’m thinking big money...billions and billions. Soros and Obama’s handlers.