The eruption of the volcano on the Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in Iceland, which began on Wednesday, has already paralyzed air traffic in Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and the majority of Nordic countries.
*Volcanic eruptions remain one of the most unpredictable natural disasters. They bring powerful eruptive clouds filled with volcanic ash and gas, abundant rockslides, lava and heated fragments of rock streams falling down the volcanic slopes.
*Ash released into the air is highly dangerous for automobile and air transportation. During the ash fallout, airports usually close down.
*Volcanic eruptions threaten aviation as the ash accumulating in the engine burns, covering parts of the engine in a glaze. This may lead to the engine stopping.
*When the aircraft comes in the ash cloud, fog and ash reduce the visibility making the further flight risky. Such effect is called "sandblast effect".
MOSCOW, April 16 (RIA Novosti)
