Developing scenarios to explore impacts and weaknesses in aviation response exercises for volcanic ash eruptions in Europe

Ash from volcanic eruptions can severely interrupt air traffic, as the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010 impressively demonstrated. This study used historic eruption and meteorological data to develop two volcanic ash scenarios using Icelandic volcanoes. The scenarios demonstrate the potential scale of events in terms of duration and intensity and enable an investigation of responses either during a long period of continuous risk assessment and maintenance or when facing a large-scale severe interruption of air traffic, while under current regulations.