The Ash That Grounded Planes for 3 Weeks

Volcanic Ash from Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano in southern Iceland that erupted in 2010, causing flights in the northern hemisphere to be grounded for weeks.

The technical term for volcanic ejecta is 'ash' regardless of the size of the particles. As you can see from this macro photo, the ash is poorly sorted, with grains of many sizes AND, the grains are jagged and gritty. The coarser grains can be up to 5mm and even more in size.This is the stuff that Michael O'Leary of RyanAir would have had you fly through. Imagine what a prolonged flight through it would have done to the engines.

While we in Europe and America grumbled about cancelled and delayed flights, Icelanders experienced a personal tragedy. The event cost livelihoods and the death of much livestock. A particularly poignant photo that appeared in Icelandic papers was of an old farmer clinging to the neck of his 'stoic grey horse,' just before it was led away to be put down.

Even today, when the winds are strong and in the right direction, the ash from the 2010 eruption is swept over surrounding settlements.

I am very grateful to Tryggby, the manager at the Farmers' Market store in Hvolsvollur, who gave me a sachet of the dust.