This false-colour image from an infrared satellite shows how the volcanic ash has spread over Europe. The ash shows up as red – however it can also be drawn up into clouds and is likely to be far more widely dispersed

Iceland, like Hawaii, was formed by volcanoes, and although some parts of the island have hardly changed since the first Vikings settlers saw them more than 1100 years ago other parts of it are still taking shape as a result of volcanic eruptions.

• Iceland Volcano Eruption can actually help out in the prevention of Global Warming by  slowing down the process.
• While the EU was recently forced to write a check to save Greece’s economy, it could be forced to dig deep in its pockets for the airline industry, too.
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• Volcanoes make sunsets more colorful. When Alaska’s Kasatochi volcano erupted in 2008, people all over the world sawbeautiful orange and coral hues in sunsets. This visual phenomenon is the result of fine ash particles in the atmosphere scattering the sun’s rays.
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• Up to 20% of the Kenya’s economy relies on its horticulture export market — a sector that has been completely frozen by the flight ban. European florists, in particular, rely heavily on this East African nation. The head of the Kenya Flower Council said that growers have been forced to destroy 3,000 tons of flowers since last week, with devastating effects on the local economy.
• The last Icelandic Earthquake eruption lasted for two years in 1823. History books talk about several time getting clouds of dust in Europe and Iceland. People attributed it to the earthquakes.
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• Millions of passengers have been stranded .
• Over 20 Billion dollars has been lost with the grounding of aircraft in Europe.
• Taxis in Europe are hard to find. If you want to ride from Madrid to Paris it is $5600 cash.
• John Cleese, of the classic Monty Python’s Flying Circus comedy troupe, paid $5,100 for a taxi ride from Oslo in Norway to Brussels in Belgium
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• Jens Stoltenberg, prime minister of Norway, is one of the thousands of people stranded outside their home country. The politician is stuck in New York, but has been managing affairs in his home country on his Apple iPad. “It’s official,” says Stevie Smith at the Tech Herald. Apple’s latest toy is “capable of running the world.”
• Produce is spoiling in warehouses as shipments are not being able to fly.
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• Shipping packages, etc. have not been delivered since the banning of flights.

The Icelandic volcanic eruption is costing airlines $200 Million a day from delays and cancellations. In other words, if you want a blanket or bottled water on a future flight, be prepared to shell out $50.

For more Earth Day Information and Activities,

click on the following:

http://celebrateearthday.blogspot.com/

Watch the pieces come together as they are sent up from Earth.  This is the International Space Station (ISS) Assembly diagram, piece by piece, with the dates each section was added.

I had no idea the Space Station had grown to this size.  This is really cool.

What a piece of engineering!!

http://i.usatoday.net/tech/graphics/iss_timeline/flash.htm

The sun sets over the river Liffey in Dublin

The sunset over Edinburgh last night

House of Parliament London

The empty airport control tower at Newcastle airport last night, with the red volcanic ash sky in the background