Aviation authorities on red alert for ash cloud after Iceland

Iceland has reopened the airspace above its largest volcano after scientists downgraded its threat to 'orange'. 

The directive came after the country's Met Office today issued a 'red alert' early this morning after the Bardarbunga volcano erupted last night.

Even though no volcanic ash was detected, authorities took the unusual step of banning all flights over the volcano in a move that echoed the Eyjafjallajokull ash cloud disaster which brought European air travel to a standstill for six days in 2010.



An aerial view showing white clouds of smoke and steam rising from an eruption taken during a flight over the Holuhraun lava field north of the Vatnajokull glacier




Glowing: Magma erupts at the surface of the Vatnajokull glacier on Bardarbunga volcano



The dark areas in this infrared image show the heat from lava beneath the surface close to the volcano


Peaceful: Steam and smoke rise over a 1km fissure in the lava field north on Bardarbunga


Credit to Dailymail.com.uk
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2737493/Volcano-experts-declare-red-alert-Iceland-s-Bardarbunga-erupts-overnight-prompting-immediate-flights-ban-echoing-2010-ash-cloud-disaster.html#ixzz3BniUsRhQ