African volcano SO2 cloud
 

Hi,
you can find the cloud here:
http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/p...H_SO2_DDC2.GIF
or here:
Last 24 hours

It seems to be in a location totally different from the official VAAC ash forecast.

1.000.000 $ question: what to do about that cloud ? To fly or not to fly ?
And: why is it not worked into the official forecasts ?????

Any idea ?

Which VAAC is tracking/forecasting this one?

Toulouse VAAC
 

Over to the experts but I can quite believe that sulphur dioxide could go in different directions to ash clouds--it's a gas not a solid and could easily be at different altitudes and therefore in different wind conditions.

At 20C & 1atm
Air 1.205 kg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide 2.279 kg/m3

No idea how that will influence mixing and separation/descent :confused:

hmm...
what about 300 or 250 mb ?
Does the volcano erupt at 20 C ?
How fast does it cool, relatively ?
Questions....for the experts.
Would love to see VAAC official info.

SO2 can be an indicator of ash, but you can also have an eruption with a lot of SO2 but very little ash, so it depends on the type of eruption. Just because there's SO2 doesn't necessarily mean there's ash. Go with the ash forecasts from the VAAC.

I flew
 

Big discussions, but operated to Sanna, and got some lovely pictures of what looked like the after effects of the eruption, big CB type cloud head, with very long tail.

Also a seperate black, (ash) belt from Chile.....


Dont know what was worse threat, the volcanic activity or the political unreast in Yemin.