Stranded

Stranded in the UK, the result of volcanic eruptions in Iceland which have forced volcanic ash into the atmosphere and closed the majority of European airspace.

No signs on when the situation will clear - although reports indicate that this Volcano, Eyjafjallokull, erupted for some 13 months in 1821; it's last recorded eruption.

It could be a while then, although it brings to our attention the fascinating workings of mother nature as well as some interesting points of environmental debate.

Firstly, an article in yesterday's Guardian alludes to the huge CO2 emissions savings that will be made through the thousands of grounded planes and idle jet engines. (Probably equal in magnitude to the thousands of pounds the airlines are losing)

Secondly, for those scientists who would criticise our overly anthropocentric perspective on global climate change, this might be an example of how one very simple and common act of nature can have the same deleterious effect on the earth's balance systems as our human induced activities. Both through the explusion of CO2 and through the process of 'global dimming'.

Not so however say the scientists reported in the Guardian article. Apparently the CO2 emissions savings from the airlines - some 2.8m tonnes as of yesterday - far outweigh the mere 15 thousand tonnes of CO2 spewed out by Eyjafjallokull daily.

A sign of the times to see the speed with which the Environmental Transport Association made this CO2 emissions reduction figure public.