This is the link;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8623806.stm
QUOTE
Iceland's ash plume and a warning from Met Office scientist Derrick Ryall
Most restrictions on UK airspace will stay in place until 1300 BST on Friday because of ash from a volcano in Iceland, air traffic controllers say.
But some flights may be allowed after 0100 BST from Northern Ireland and several airports in Scotland.
The volcanic eruption has caused flight cancellations across Europe amid fears the ash could cause engine failures.
Air traffic control service (Nats) said its next review would be at 0230 BST but the situation was "not improving".
Medication
The volcano's eruption is intensifying, and the wind direction is expected to continue bringing clouds of ash into UK and European airspace for some time to come - safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could persist for 48 hours.
The Nats restrictions that may be relaxed are on flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick.
A lone plane is in the skies above Britain tonight on a research mission to investigate the volcanic plume.
The aircraft - with scientists on board - is taking measurements of the height, density and position of the ash.
There are limits to what satellites and ground observations can discern about the plume.
Its flight path was planned to take it from Oxford to Prestwick to Lossiemouth to Newcastle and then back south.
Among the researchers on board are specialists in atmospheric science.
The aircraft - a Dortnier 228 - is managed by the government-funded Natural Environment Research Council. Its head of airborne research, Peter Purcell, described the plane as "extremely adaptable and capable".
"The instrumentation will allow the crew to safely monitor the atmospheric conditions as the plume is approached," he said.
The findings will be fed to Met Office to help improve forecasts for the plume's position.
North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed after 0100BST.
Nats said the situation was not improving because the forecast affected area "appears to be closing in from east to west".
The UK's airspace restriction was the worst in living memory, a spokesman said.
Up to 600,000 people are thought to have been affected and up to 5,000 flights could be cancelled.
Passengers were advised to contact their carriers prior to travel.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he was "closely monitoring the situation" and would be meeting key transport officials on Friday morning.
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the still-erupting volcano could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.
The Health Protection Agency said the ash from the Eyjafjallajoekull eruption did not pose a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude.
Volcanic ash is expected to reach ground level over the UK, starting in Scotland on Thursday evening before moving south over the course of the night.
Health Protection Scotland said those with existing respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma should ensure they have any inhalers or other medications with them.
These are some of the knock-on effects of the ash disruption:
Eurocontrol says Germany is monitoring the situation and considering partial airspace closures
Planes have been grounded in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. France is also preparing to close its main airports.
There is severe disruption in both Poland and Spain, where all northbound flights are cancelled. Switzerland has cancelled a number of flights from Geneva
British Airways offers refunds or an option to rebook after all its domestic flights are suspended
Flybe announces it has cancelled all flights up until 1300 BST on Friday and more than 25 services due to run after that.
British sports teams have been hit by travel problems after flights were grounded
Extent of Iceland volcano ash cloud
The eruption in Iceland on Wednesday sent ash kilometres into the air. Satellite images show the cloud as brownish-black as ice particles mingle with ash.
People in the Eyjafjallajoekull area were evacuated, but the spread of the ash cloud raised concerns for air traffic controllers in nearby countries.
By 1800GMT, the whole of the UK is expected to be affected and the Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) has banned flights from UK airspace.
Meteorologists say that as the cloud spreads it will dissipate and lose intensity - but as the eruption continues, so does the ash cloud.
The situation is not expected to improve overnight as the ash cloud spreads. It is unclear when flights will be allowed to resume.
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A spokeswoman for Eurostar said it had experienced about 10,000 extra bookings and that Friday's services were "extremely full".
VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD
The eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area is the second to occur in a month
This eruption has released ash to significantly greater heights
Volcanic ash contains tiny particles of rock and even glass, which can wreak havoc with machinery
A 1982 BA flight unknowingly flew into an ash cloud, shutting down all four engines
While ash can be dangerous to health, the current cloud is too high to pose a threat
The ash is likely to lead to particularly red sunsets in some areas
Animated guide: Volcanoes
BBC travel news
Europe faces prolonged air chaos
The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland.
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has sent up a reconnaissance flight to investigate how the ash is distributed in the cloud, something that is impossible to assess from satellite imagery.
In 1982 a British Airways jumbo had all four of its engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash.
There was also an incident on 15 December 1989 when KLM Flight 867, a B747-400 from Amsterdam to Anchorage, Alaska, flew into the plume of the erupting Mount Redoubt, causing all four engines to fail.
Once the flight cleared the ash cloud, the crew was able to restart each engine and then make a safe landing at Anchorage, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
Eruption site webcam
Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program
Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.
Volcanologist Thor Thordarsson said if the Icelandic volcano maintained its current phase of activity, then the eruption could be over in "a few hours or even a few days" meaning the atmosphere would clear shortly afterwards.
But he added: "If the eruption has a face change and starts to produce lava... then we might be in for a much longer haul, an eruption that might last for months or even years, with a quiet period in between intermittent explosions."
Prof Bill McGuire, professor at the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, said it was not "particularly unusual" for ash from Icelandic eruptions to reach the UK.
"Such a large eruption... would have the potential to severely affect air travel at high northern latitudes for six months or more.
"In relation to the current eruption, it is worth noting that the last eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull lasted more than 12 months."
Most restrictions on UK airspace will stay in place until 1300 BST on Friday because of ash from a volcano in Iceland, air traffic controllers say.
But some flights may be allowed after 0100 BST from Northern Ireland and several airports in Scotland.
The volcanic eruption has caused flight cancellations across Europe amid fears the ash could cause engine failures.
Air traffic control service (Nats) said its next review would be at 0230 BST but the situation was "not improving".
Medication
The volcano's eruption is intensifying, and the wind direction is expected to continue bringing clouds of ash into UK and European airspace for some time to come - safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could persist for 48 hours.
The Nats restrictions that may be relaxed are on flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick.
A lone plane is in the skies above Britain tonight on a research mission to investigate the volcanic plume.
The aircraft - with scientists on board - is taking measurements of the height, density and position of the ash.
There are limits to what satellites and ground observations can discern about the plume.
Its flight path was planned to take it from Oxford to Prestwick to Lossiemouth to Newcastle and then back south.
Among the researchers on board are specialists in atmospheric science.
The aircraft - a Dortnier 228 - is managed by the government-funded Natural Environment Research Council. Its head of airborne research, Peter Purcell, described the plane as "extremely adaptable and capable".
"The instrumentation will allow the crew to safely monitor the atmospheric conditions as the plume is approached," he said.
The findings will be fed to Met Office to help improve forecasts for the plume's position.
North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed after 0100BST.
Nats said the situation was not improving because the forecast affected area "appears to be closing in from east to west".
The UK's airspace restriction was the worst in living memory, a spokesman said.
Up to 600,000 people are thought to have been affected and up to 5,000 flights could be cancelled.
Passengers were advised to contact their carriers prior to travel.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he was "closely monitoring the situation" and would be meeting key transport officials on Friday morning.
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the still-erupting volcano could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.
The Health Protection Agency said the ash from the Eyjafjallajoekull eruption did not pose a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude.
Volcanic ash is expected to reach ground level over the UK, starting in Scotland on Thursday evening before moving south over the course of the night.
Health Protection Scotland said those with existing respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma should ensure they have any inhalers or other medications with them.
These are some of the knock-on effects of the ash disruption:
Eurocontrol says Germany is monitoring the situation and considering partial airspace closures
Planes have been grounded in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. France is also preparing to close its main airports.
There is severe disruption in both Poland and Spain, where all northbound flights are cancelled. Switzerland has cancelled a number of flights from Geneva
British Airways offers refunds or an option to rebook after all its domestic flights are suspended
Flybe announces it has cancelled all flights up until 1300 BST on Friday and more than 25 services due to run after that.
British sports teams have been hit by travel problems after flights were grounded
Extent of Iceland volcano ash cloud
The eruption in Iceland on Wednesday sent ash kilometres into the air. Satellite images show the cloud as brownish-black as ice particles mingle with ash.
People in the Eyjafjallajoekull area were evacuated, but the spread of the ash cloud raised concerns for air traffic controllers in nearby countries.
By 1800GMT, the whole of the UK is expected to be affected and the Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) has banned flights from UK airspace.
Meteorologists say that as the cloud spreads it will dissipate and lose intensity - but as the eruption continues, so does the ash cloud.
The situation is not expected to improve overnight as the ash cloud spreads. It is unclear when flights will be allowed to resume.
BACK 1 of 5 NEXT
A spokeswoman for Eurostar said it had experienced about 10,000 extra bookings and that Friday's services were "extremely full".
VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD
The eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area is the second to occur in a month
This eruption has released ash to significantly greater heights
Volcanic ash contains tiny particles of rock and even glass, which can wreak havoc with machinery
A 1982 BA flight unknowingly flew into an ash cloud, shutting down all four engines
While ash can be dangerous to health, the current cloud is too high to pose a threat
The ash is likely to lead to particularly red sunsets in some areas
Animated guide: Volcanoes
BBC travel news
Europe faces prolonged air chaos
The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland.
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has sent up a reconnaissance flight to investigate how the ash is distributed in the cloud, something that is impossible to assess from satellite imagery.
In 1982 a British Airways jumbo had all four of its engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash.
There was also an incident on 15 December 1989 when KLM Flight 867, a B747-400 from Amsterdam to Anchorage, Alaska, flew into the plume of the erupting Mount Redoubt, causing all four engines to fail.
Once the flight cleared the ash cloud, the crew was able to restart each engine and then make a safe landing at Anchorage, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
Eruption site webcam
Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program
Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.
Volcanologist Thor Thordarsson said if the Icelandic volcano maintained its current phase of activity, then the eruption could be over in "a few hours or even a few days" meaning the atmosphere would clear shortly afterwards.
But he added: "If the eruption has a face change and starts to produce lava... then we might be in for a much longer haul, an eruption that might last for months or even years, with a quiet period in between intermittent explosions."
Prof Bill McGuire, professor at the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, said it was not "particularly unusual" for ash from Icelandic eruptions to reach the UK.
"Such a large eruption... would have the potential to severely affect air travel at high northern latitudes for six months or more.
"In relation to the current eruption, it is worth noting that the last eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull lasted more than 12 months."
A worry for both airlines and passengers. The money lost could be a financial disaster for the airlines ans also the passengers who are returning home to their jobs, but safety must always come first. I just hope the volcano settles down soon.
