Volcano exposes mankind’s limits the matter of volcanoes
Much of humankind shares the conceit that we are somehow merely distant genetic relatives of our ancestors, virtually a new species living in another dimension given technological advances, able to transcend the elements. That’s a foolish and even dangerous presumption, and one Albertans “closer to the weather” should understand by rote. It is especially so in the matter of volcanoes.
Visitors to Banff National Park’s Upper Hot Springs can peruse an exhibit showing the direct effects of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens on our area. That included fallen ash as well as geothermal activity that affected the temperature of hot springs water, even though the volcano is more than 1,100 kilometres distant. Over the years, thousands of Edmontonians have visited volcano sites in Hawaii, Mexico and elsewhere, marvelling at their potential power and awesome beauty.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcano at the Eyjafjallajokull glacier is also destined to be remembered for decades. It once again demonstrates the dimension of natural forces at work, the interconnectedness of the planet and the striking incapacity of human beings, however smugly sophisticated, to either predict such phenomena or do much about them.
The very notion that something happening in a remote island in the North Atlantic could wreak havoc on a huge swath of international travel and shake up geopolitics should give us all pause for reflection. Nature isn’t without its ironies, since Iceland itself has been largely spared so far, as prevailing winds have carried most of the ash abroad. And unlike the nation’s recent economic meltdown, no one can blame Icelanders for this latest blow, or its deep financial ramifications for long-stressed air carriers.
Monday, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) declared volcanic fallout is adversely affecting the industry more profoundly than 9/11. Giovanni Bisignani pegged the daily loss to European air carriers at $200 million in lost income with an overall impact on continental business registering in the billions.
Since blaming impoverished Iceland or Mother Nature provides nothing in the way of potential redress, the lobby has taken aim at the European Union, claiming a “lack of leadership” in the face of the “crisis,” with the promise of compensation down the line.
It does seem as if lead nations in the EU took their time in co-ordinating efforts, although erring on the side of safety does seem to be a reasonable position. Sometimes, the risk-adverse culture embraced by politicians has its merits.
Concern also spread for a time to St. John’s, where a reported 30-percent chance of falling ash in Newfoundland airspace — not to mention a thick fog — prompted the first North American flight cancellations. Juno Award winner Michael Buble became an instant expert on atmospherics, worrying aloud to the media that he might be stranded for three days, perish the thought.
For a time Monday, ash production from the eruption seemed to be on the wane, but then the volcano appeared to rally, sending out a new cloud that disrupted tentative plans for a resumption today of flights out of southern English airports. And scientists confirm that matters could get worse in the coming days, weeks and even months.
Eyjafjallajokull generally erupts in spurts, which can last for up to two years based on historical record. And every time it has popped, the nearby, much larger Katla volcano has also erupted.
These events bring out the best and worst in people — neighbours helping strangers, unsavoury operators jacking up prices, the Royal Navy dispatched to rescue British subjects. Stories of stranded Canadians pack newspaper stories, e-mails, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
About the only ones who seem happy are those living near airport flight paths. Residents near London’s Heathrow have expressed joy to reporters about hearing morning birdsong for the first time in years, and about breathing air without the acrid scent of aviation fuel.
In the end, things will return to normal, not without the sort of finger-pointing, tall tales and hand-wringing that humans indulge in the face of irritating events we simply can’t control. Best to embrace the spirit of a sage on the spot, namely Reykjavik novelist Hallgrimur Helgason, who reminds that nature can be “harsh and full of surprises,” a truth that has moulded his country’s national psyche, as Albertans from our own experiences will well understand.
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Haber Arşivi: Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Photo, Heathrow Airport, Icelandic volcano, İzlanda, KLM Group, Middle East, National Air Traffic Services, Netherlands, The Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, The volcanic ash clouds, Volcanic, Volcanic Images
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