One consolation for stranded commuters is that there will be a vibrant sunset and purple moon, as the ash particles scatter the sunlight.
When the Iceland volcano Laki erupted in 1783, the following winter was so cold that Charleston harbor froze over. Some consolation.
We have gorgeous sunsets in SoCal when wildfires are burning, but they’re hardly a consolation. Sheesh!!
Actually, the Iclandic volcano Laki in 1783 was not a volcano. It was a fissure event just as the current one is. The fissure erupted for at least 6 months over a 25 mile extent. The fluorine gas produced was poisonous to the livestock and the ash wore down their teeth. Ninety percent of the animals died, and about 10,000 Icelanders also mostly of starvation.
In Europe there was a pall of blue haze in the air. Benjamin Franklin who was in France at the time said it might be caused by something happening in Iceland. There was serious crop damage, and it is felt that worsening conditions may have precipitated the French Revolution.
In addition to the disruption of air traffic, there are a lot of other things that might happen if this continues lond enough. Here is a link to a lot of interesting sites about this topic: