Not directly.

But the guy who sits next to me at work has a daughter studying Geology at Edinburgh University - he was leaving with her today for a trip to Iceland to see that particular volcano and the glacier nearby. I think we can assume it didn't quite happen...

He was telling me yesterday that as it had started erupting that he might find it difficult to get there. I have to admit I thought he was exaggerating....

Before today, I might have thought he was exaggerating too! Speaking of University of Edinburgh, here's a quote I found online (link below to full article):

'The eruptions from a volcano in Iceland could last for 'months or even years,' leaving aviation chaos and atmospheric damage in its wake, a leading volcanologist says.

'If a lava dome forms, if that happens, weÂre in for a fairly long eruption,' Dr. Thor Thordarson, an expert on Icelandic volcanoes, told the Star from the University of Edinburgh.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toronto Star

Thanks for your concern, Stoneangel. I'm fine, the volcano has so far not interrupted daily life in my area. That may change if the wind turns and starts dumping ash on us.

The biggest concern right now is that several times when this particular volcano has erupted, another one nearby has erupted shortly afterwards. That one, Katla, is much bigger and scarier and could have serious effects on the world's climate. It has been showing signs of unrest since 1999.

Here is a link that might be useful: Katla

Glad you are OK netla. Here we have vapour trail-free skies as we are under the flight-path for the US bound planes.
It is at such times we realise that Acts of God/Natural Forces really do still control our so-called modern environment.
At the moment the British Isles is covered by a 'blocking high' (high air pressure) with very cold winds from the North bringing the volcanic ash over us . . . as yet our Western area still has clear skies.

We are all such miniscule cogs in a mighty wheel....it is sobering to say the least.

Good wishes to all of you affected by this.

As the dust cloud circles the earth, we will all be affected to one degree or another. It will be fascinating to observe the effects.

The first thing that will be noticed are magnificent fiery sunsets. Hopefully there will be no great effect on the climate.

I can't help but think Katla is a lovely name for a volcano!

Our poor newsreaders are having a difficult time with the pronunciation of that volcano. Katla erupting would have been easier :-)
Some travellers who were delayed in stopover airports like Singapore, on their way to European destinations, are coming back to Australia as the hotels are fully booked. No knowing how long the situation will last.

Netla, hope you are not in the path of the flooding. Stay safe. I was reading a bit about Ragnarok, in Norse mythology. Also, read an article stating that ca. 200 years ago, a volcano erupted in Iceland that caused climate change and food shortages, and thus was one of the causes of the French Revolution.

Glad to hear you're OK, Netla. Veer, I had family visiting from England who went back home on Tuesday - if their flight was a day or two later, they could have been 'stuck' here, which would have been much to my delight!

"We are all such miniscule cogs in a mighty wheel....it is sobering to say the least."

How true, yoyobon. I was reminded of that after a magnetic storm on the surface of the sun (!) blew out the electricity in Quebec and some Ontario communities quite a few years ago.

Woodnymph, there is fortunately no danger of flooding in my area (Reykjavík).

The flooding has been in a rural area, and about 20 farms have had to be evacuated due to flooding risk. This is very unfortunate timing, as the lambing season is beginning and the farmers may not be able to keep the animals indoors longer than to the end of the month, due to fodder shortage. The ash cloud is spreading over the land near the volcano and spoiling pastures.

The eruption you read about, the one in Laki in 1783-1784, is one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in historical times. It killed about 1/5 of the population of Iceland and as much as 80% of all livestock, and the winter of those years was very cold and harsh, not just in Europe, but in North-America as well.

Click on the link to see a fantastic photo snapped by one of the farmers, moments before he fled to safety with his family.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2117360}}

An incredible photo, beautiful but awe-inspiring.

What an amazing photo! The tranquility and beauty of the farm contrasted with the violence and beauty of the volcanic plume is perfect. I am glad the farmer and his family got away!

In the UK volcanoes/travel difficulties are taking precedence over reports about our upcoming election. Anything from the 'Dunkirk Spirit' with stories of people trying to get back from the Continent, to a 'ranter' on the BBC who phoned in to say it was up to the Government to get his family home from New Zealand. Ticket touts in Italy are doing a roaring trade by buying up all the tickets from mainline rail stations and selling them on at exorbitant prices.
Will the Royal Navy be called in to pick up stranded passengers from Channel ports? Will many airlines go bust? Will the 'no-fly' ban be lifted despite the dangers? Is the risk too great?
As the old saying goes "Answers on a postcard please."

Here is a link that might be useful: Latest News

My family is lucky as noone is stuck anywhere unable to get home. My daughter sometimes works in Ethiopia but not at present, thank God. My husband had to take the train this morning to a meeting in Oslo. He was to have gone by air with a group. Some other members of this committee can't attend, being stuck in China, New Zealand and Portugal. People in Stockholm are putting up Facebook groups to organize long distance travel by shared cars. Minor invonveniences compared to the worst-case scenarios.

I have a house guest from Switzerland, along with her 12 year-old son. Her husband was supposed to fly in this week for meetings, and return to Switzerland on the weekend with their son, leaving my friend to gambol about here in the states with her friends for another 2 weeks. Now their plans are all up in the air, so to speak.

We also have friends from India who are due to arrive here (another wave of house guests) on the 28th, though I've heard nothing about air travel disruptions other than trans-Atlantic and northern Europe. So they may be OK, as long as they weren't stopping over in London to see family.

Netla, I have been thinking of you through all the volcano news. I'm glad to hear that it is not affecting you directly, and hope this continues to be true.

I keep remembering a college geology class that discussed the explosion of Mount Tambora in 1815. The following year was called The Year Without Summer, and popularly referred to as "Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death" (even though it was 1816). There was so much ash in the atmosphere that the following summer crops failed due to cold throughout Europe, eastern Canada, and the northeastern United States for 1816. Snow fell on and off all summer long. Here in the US there was widespread hunger leading to massive migration out of New England that year. It takes an enormous volcano to have such a profound effect. I do not believe if this one is anything near that scale. I am wondering though if it might be big enough to cause a somewhat cooler than usual summer. And we are all wondering how long it will be before overseas travel will be restored.

When ever we forget how powerful nature it, nature reminds us.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Mount Tambora 1815

Here's another link to the Mount Tambora volcano and its effect on weather. The volcano in Iceland pales by comparison, which is a very good thing indeed! I would imagine that this had happened before the invention of flying, only the people in Iceland would have known it was happening.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Weather in 1816

I hope the worst is over for almost everyone. I was watching news video of the now hardened ash on an Icelandic farm. I suppose eventually it will be good for the soil, but farmers can't survive on eventually, can they?

National broadcast news showed a couple in New York who went to the airport and brought home a stranded Scots family who'd been sleeping at JFK.

I think these situations bring out the best and the worst in the human race.
On the BBC this morning a woman who runs a charity collecting bone-marrow from donors world-wide described the difficulty of collection as it is only 'viable' for 72 hours. A man spoke of trying to get leukemia medication only made in the US. One big US carrier wanted $7000 for their courier, which he couldn't afford, but another US firm offered to do it for about $500 flying in to S Spain.
Tickets for trains, higher cars and ferries seem to have become much more expensive.

Our newspaper this morning carried an article about some Italian what we would call scalpers who are buying up all available train tickets and selling them on for outrageous prices.

I'm told the Icelandic economy is dying - but as a last wish, it asked for it's ashes to be scattered all over Europe...

(I'll get my coat...)

Still, aeroplanes flying again now.

Did anyone see the poem by Carol Ann Duffy?

SILVER LINING

Five miles up the hush and shush of ash,
Yet the sky is as clean as a white slate Â
I could write my childhood there.
Selfish to sit in this garden, listening to the past
(A gentleman bee wooing its flower, a lawnmower)
When the grounded planes mean ruined plans,
Holidays on hold, sore absences at weddings, funerals ... wingless commerce.
But BritainÂs birds sing in this spring
From Inverness to Liverpool, from Creith to Cardiff,
Oxford, Londontown, LandÂs End to John OÂGroats.
The musicÂs silent summons,
That Shakespeare heard and Edward Thomas and, briefly, us.

Awesome poem. Thanks for posting it.

Martin, kindly leave the stage! Funny though!!
How about a new export for Iceland, pumice stone? Advertised as "Lava Loofahs" they would be the latest craze in hard heels exfoliant treatment. Also available as a cream....
Can you tell that one of my many careers was in advertising? :-)

Here's are some truly incredible photos of Iceland's volcano eruption.

My prayers are with everyone there that they come safely through this.

Here is a link that might be useful: iceland volcano eruption

What truly extraordinary photos...the power of nature is very humbling. Thanks for posting.