Summary
19 April 2010
Scientists say the cloud of ash from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano, which has caused chaos to air travellers across Europe, appears to be changing.
Reporter:
Lorna Gordon
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Report
Conditions on the ground immediately downstream of the volcano are extremely difficult. A lot of ash is falling. Approximately ten centimetres of volcanic dust has settled on the ground.
Visibility is down to just a few metres and the authorities are using specially modified vehicles, armoured personnel carriers to visit and check on people who remain in the area.
But the top of the ash cloud reaching into the sky has lowered. It is no longer registering on weather radar and scientists estimate its maximum height is now around three to four thousand metres.
Much less ash is now being released into the atmosphere compared to the beginning of this eruption and scientists say they believe the volcanic activity may now be entering a different phase.
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Vocabulary
- eruption
explosion from a volcano
- Conditions on the ground
the way that things are for people living in the area
- downstream of the volcano
in the area that is under the cloud from the volcano
- volcanic dust
small, fine pieces of material that have been thrown up into the air by the volcano and are now falling down
- settled on the ground
fallen from the sky and landed on the ground
- Visibility
the distance that people can see
- specially modified vehicles
cars, lorries, vans, etc. that have been adapted to make them suitable for the conditions
- armoured personnel carrier
military-style vehicles made from very strong materials that are designed to carry people in safety
- no longer registering on weather radar
not appearing any more on the equipment used by people who predict the weather
- a different phase
a period when its pattern of activity has changed
