UK - Wales - Snowdon centre to study effects of ash cloud
Snowdon centre to study effects of ash cloud
Jun 9 2010 by Sally Williams, Western Mail
SCIENTISTS are to research the effects of the Icelandic ash cloud on Wales’ environment.
The ash cloud caused air travel chaos for millions of passengers when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in April.
Although it is no longer emitting ash, researchers from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) are to investigate how the volcano has affected the environment from its monitoring station on Snowdon in North Wales.
Over the course of time, they believe that this should give a better understanding of the ash and exactly what it contains. Some scientists believe that the ash that hit the ground in parts of Wales could contain small particles of glass-like silica that could be harmful to breathe in for asthma suffers and could act like acid rain if falling in rain on trees and water courses.
And the Welsh researchers aim to find out how quickly it is incorporated into soils, vegetation and Welsh water systems.
By collecting grass samples and analysing rainfall from Snowdon every week, the researchers hope to gain knowledge of the chemical make-up of the ash itself.
Dylan Lloyd, CCW’s environmental surveillance officer said: “Our samples are being analysed for fluoride levels. Fluorine gas is emitted by volcanoes together with other chemicals, and when concentrations of fluoride become high livestock can suffer from fluorosis......................
Jun 9 2010 by Sally Williams, Western Mail
SCIENTISTS are to research the effects of the Icelandic ash cloud on Wales’ environment.
The ash cloud caused air travel chaos for millions of passengers when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in April.
Although it is no longer emitting ash, researchers from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) are to investigate how the volcano has affected the environment from its monitoring station on Snowdon in North Wales.
Over the course of time, they believe that this should give a better understanding of the ash and exactly what it contains. Some scientists believe that the ash that hit the ground in parts of Wales could contain small particles of glass-like silica that could be harmful to breathe in for asthma suffers and could act like acid rain if falling in rain on trees and water courses.
And the Welsh researchers aim to find out how quickly it is incorporated into soils, vegetation and Welsh water systems.
By collecting grass samples and analysing rainfall from Snowdon every week, the researchers hope to gain knowledge of the chemical make-up of the ash itself.
Dylan Lloyd, CCW’s environmental surveillance officer said: “Our samples are being analysed for fluoride levels. Fluorine gas is emitted by volcanoes together with other chemicals, and when concentrations of fluoride become high livestock can suffer from fluorosis......................
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