Binoy Kampmark: Volcanic Plumes and Surreal Scenes

The scenes of empty skies over Europe are surreal after the explosion of Iceland’s volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Flights continue to be grounded in the most extensive reaction to a volcanic plume in Europe's history. Global cancellations of flights have been initiated with swift severity. Such plumes are seen as lethal entities, choking engines in mid flight and sending planes plummeting. An abundance of material and commentary exists on the subject. The ash, it is claimed, melts and congeals within the engine much as glass would.

Near disasters have been avoided – a British Airways 747 escaped disaster in 1982 when it few into plumes of ash from the Galunggung Volcano in Java. Despite the failure of all four engines, the crew managed to restart one. Those in Alaska might well recall a similar incident in 1989 when catastrophe with a KLM Boeing 747 was averted. Again, volcanic ash was the culprit. A grim account was printed in the Anchorage Daily News (Dec 16, 1989). Passengers recall a painful, terrifying descent for 12 minutes (a fall of 2 miles). The restarting of two engines restored control.

There is a sinister, surreptitious element to the way the ash insinuates itself into engine machinery. Volcanic ash is rather elusive to radar equipment. Such clouds may not be seen, but are very present in their effects. Scientists liken flying into such invisible clouds of ash as something akin to a highly abrasive sandstorm.

The volcanic eruption is, in short, a terror to be respected. Its effects can be lingering and expansive. Weather patterns can alter for lengthy periods. Winters can be prolonged. And, of course, there are the broader effects on everyday living such as the staggering range of cancellations that have affected global travel or the food that may well go bad as it lies unattended in airport warehouses. Food shortages at this stage may prove imminent.

Thai newspapers are reporting a near state of panic amongst travellers stranded for days. ‘We’ll take any flight to Europe,’ a pleading Dirk Maertens at Bangkok’s international airport explained (Phuketwan Mediawatch, Apr 19). The list of flight cancellations is impressive: 120 Singapore flights; and 99 Bangkok flights alone. Sporting events are being shelved, at least briefly. The planners of the MotoGP Motegi in Japan are considering postponing their event due to the disruption of airline flights over Europe.

The scenes that are playing out in Europe will surely be causing passengers some concern. But what is interesting to note is how regular these events have occurred in the past. Richard Arculus, a vulcanologist from the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences at the Australian National University has a startling reminder. The Southeast Rift Zone of the island is prone to such events. Take the spectacular eruption in 1783-4 AD at the Laki Fissure. The materials brought forth by the eruption were impressive in their toxicity. The sulphur and fluorine-bearing compounds proved lethal to the local livestock and resulted in a particularly severe winter in north-western Europe. Many recorded respiratory problems as well.

Such devastating harvests are a reminder how human beings remain at the mercy of such remarkable events. Such eruptions may well continue for months, causing even further damage. Geophysicists also have their eye on the larger Katla volcano as a far more aggressive successor. The best and brightest are going to be kept busy for years trying to find a solution to this pressing environmental conundrum and they may well come up empty handed.

Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com

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