Volcanic Ash Cloud over Europe causing Air Space Closure - Airborne and Space borne observations

Kurzfassung

Between 19 April and 18 May 2010, measurements were performed in volcanic ash (VA) plumes with the research aircraft Falcon of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) (Schumann et al., 2010). The principal motivation of these measurement flights was to provide as quickly as possible airborne measurements of VA plume properties over Central Europe. The data should provide information useful to assess the VA load predictions, which were used in the decisions on air space closure over Central Europe. The measurements were performed on request of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD, German Weather Service) and the Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung (BMVBS, Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development). Between April 29 and May 2, the measurements were performed directly over and near the Eyjafjalla volcano. The mission to Iceland was initiated on request of the Icelandic air traffic control agency (ISAVIA), because of frequent closure of the airport Keflavik. Keflavik airport is economically important for Iceland because it acts as a hub for the Iceland air fleet.