A primary version of GeoCommand - Ash Cloud Shift produced and shared by Shane Speck. http://www.geographyalltheway.com/recent-geography/geocommand-ash-cloud.htm

4. Welcome to your shift at
GeoCommand -
the European Geographical
Advisory Service.
You are in for a busy shift!

6. Your job is to operate
the 140 Console.
The 140 Console
broadcasts news updates.
Each update is a maximum of
140 characters.

8. You will receive updates from four
different information streams.
Air Traffic Meteorology
Tectonic Health

10. This sound announces
a new update.
This sound requests a new
140 Console update.
You will be asked to produce
140 Console updates
about certain topics.

12. Your shift is about to start!

14. Tectonic

15. An unusual geographic
event has occurred.
Strong seismic
Tectonic vibrations have been
measured. They
originate in the region
of Iceland.

17. Tectonic

18. Iceland
Eyjafjallajökull
Tectonic Norway
UK
Location details.
(Eyjafjallajökull: pronounced eye-a-fyat-la-yo-kutl)

21. 140 Console Update
Where has the extreme
geographical event
occurred? What do we
know so far?

23. Tectonic

24. On 26th February 2010,
unusual seismic activity
along with rapid
Tectonic expansion of the Earth's
crust was registered by
the Meteorological
Institute of Iceland.

26. Tectonic

27. The volcano became
Tectonic more active on the 20th
March, 2010.

29. Tectonic

30. Eyjafjallajökull erupted
Tectonic on April 14th, 2010.
(Eyjafjallajökull: pronounced eye-a-fyat-la-yo-kutl)

32. Tectonic

33. The eruption is the first
in Iceland since 2004.
Tectonic It is the first eruption
near Eyjafjallajökull
since 1823.
(Eyjafjallajökull: pronounced eye-a-fyat-la-yo-kutl)

36. 140 Console Update
What is the volcano’s
eruption history?

38. Tectonic

39. Tectonic

41. Tectonic

42. Ash cloud
Norway
Tectonic
The
Netherlands
UK
France

45. 140 Console Update
Can you summarise the
current situation?

47. Tectonic

48. The last eruption in
the Eyjafjallajökull
glacier, in 1821,
Tectonic caused serious
flooding as the ice
melted.
(Eyjafjallajökull: pronounced eye-a-fyat-la-yo-kutl)

50. Tectonic

51. Tectonic

54. 140 Console Update
How does the eruption
affect local people?

56. Tectonic

57. The interaction of
magma with water
Tectonic created a plume of
volcanic ash and gas
over 10 km high.

59. Meteorology

60. Currently, high pressure
over the North Atlantic
Meteorology is directing the ash
cloud towards the
United Kingdom.

62. Meteorology

63. North-westerly winds
spread the plume of ash
Meteorology over North-Western
Europe.

66. 140 Console Update
What do airlines need
to know about the
volcanic ash cloud?

68. Health

69. Health officials have
told those with
Health conditions such as
asthma to stay indoors.

71. Health

72. The Health Protection
Agency said the ash
particles can cause itchy
Health eyes, a runny nose,
sore throat or dry
mouth.

75. 140 Console Update
What health risks
are there from the
volcanic ash?

77. Air Traffic

78. Air Traffic

80. Air Traffic

81. In the past 10 years,
more than 90 aircraft
have suffered damage
Air Traffic from volcanic ash,
according to the
International Civil
Aviation Authority.

83. Air Traffic

84. Air Traffic

87. 140 Console Update
Should aircraft
be flying?

89. Meteorology

90. The Met Office have
computer programs
Meteorology that they can use to
predict how the ash
cloud will spread.

92. Air Traffic

93. Only a very small
amount of ash is
required to present a
Air Traffic danger: less than 1
milligram per cubic
metre

95. Tectonic

96. Meltwater floods
(known as jökulhlaup)
are rushing down the
Tectonic nearby rivers, and have
caused 800 people to
be evacuated.

98. Tectonic

99. Tectonic

101. Air Traffic

102. No flights could mean a
a shortage of goods
such as asparagus,
Air Traffic grapes, green onions,
lettuce, pre-packed
fruit, salad and flowers.

104. Air Traffic

105. Fruit is pre-sliced in
African facilities and
flown in. This means
that even if companies
Air Traffic could organise other
workers, the fruit isn’t
even in the right
country.

107. Air Traffic

108. US president Barack
Obama has also had to
cancel plans to fly to
Air Traffic Poland for the funeral of
Polish president Lech
Kaczyński.

110. Air Traffic

111. The International Air
Transport Association
said that altogether,
Air Traffic European airlines
were losing £130
million a day.

114. 140 Console Update
What are some effects
of cancelled air travel?

116. Tectonic

117. Almost all the 600
Icelandic people who
were moved from their
Tectonic homes early on Sunday
morning have been
allowed to return.

119. Tectonic

120. Inhabitants of 14
Tectonic farms were still
ordered to stay away.

122. Health

123. Dangerous toxic fumes
are in the air in the
immediate surroundings
Health of the volcanic crater,
which can cause
permanent damage to
the lungs if inhaled.

126. 140 Console Update
How is the volcano
affecting local people?

128. Tectonic

129. Ingi Thor Jakobsson,
manager of the Hotel Rangá
located near the
Eyjafjallajökull glacier:
Tectonic “I hope the eruption
continues for a while
because it is very good
for business”
(Eyjafjallajökull: pronounced eye-a-fyat-la-yo-kutl)

131. Tectonic

132. Ingi Thor Jakobsson,
manager of the Hotel Rangá:
“There aren't a lot of
Tectonic four star restaurants
that can offer dinner
and a view of a volcanic
eruption”

134. Tectonic

135. Ingi Thor Jakobsson,
manager of the Hotel Rangá:
Tectonic “The hotel has begun
offering helicopter rides
over the volcano.”

137. Tectonic

138. According to Adolf
Arnason, a police
officer at Hvolsvöllur
(the closest police
Tectonic station to the
eruption), the area has
seen a sharp increase
in visitors this week.

140. Meteorology

141. Most of the country
remains unaffected by
falling ash but south of
the volcano, visibility
Meteorology has been reduced to
almost zero. Conditions
are described as
‘extremely unpleasant’.

144. 140 Console Update
Are there any benefits
from the eruption?

146. Air Traffic

147. The event is described
as "a major business
and economic disaster"
Air Traffic particularly with several
European airlines
already facing financial
difficulties.

149. Meteorology

150. The Icelandic
Meteorological Office
says that the light winds
prevailing in Europe and
large amounts of
Meteorology unmelted glacial ice
above the volcano
means the situation is
unlikely to change over
the next few days.

152. Meteorology

153. CO2 Emissions
European Aviation Industry Eyjafjallajökull
350,000 tons of CO2 per day 150,000 tons of CO2
produced per day
200,000 tons of CO2 saved by 60%
cancelled flights across Europe
Meteorology

156. 140 Console Update
What is the
environmental
impact of the
eruption?

158. Health

159. Most families with
children who are living
in the fallout zone have
Health chosen to leave. Those
that remain are mostly
farmers with livestock to
look after.

161. Air Traffic

162. Air Traffic
The ash cloud is expected to spread across
Europe over the course of several days. There
will be considerable disruption to air traffic.

164. Air Traffic

165. Asia-Pacific airlines,
including Qantas, Air
China and Thai Airways
Air Traffic announce they have
been forced to cancel
more European flights.

168. 140 Console Update
Your shift is ending.
Summary statement
needed before
handover.

170. This simulation has been based
on real events and information.
You should now have a better
understanding of the consequences
of a volcanic eruption.
You should also understand more about
what Geographers actually do.