Lessons learned from Eyjafjallajökull: Emphasis on forecast process and collaborative decision making

The April-May 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland caused major disruptions in air traffic across the North Atlantic and Europe. As the event unfolded, the ripple effect of this series of eruptions was felt worldwide as thousands of flight delays and cancellations caused economic impacts reaching $3 billion dollars.

Several groups have since formed to better understand the science and service issues related to this unprecedented event. The International Civil Aviation Organization quickly organized a Volcanic Ash Task Force meeting which convened in Montreal July 27-30, 2010. The work resulting from that meeting is directly related to the lessons learned from the Eyjafjallajökull event. In response to the crisis, the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with the airlines and engine manufacturers developed an ash concentration scheme to better deal with the volcanic crisis. Although this action continues to be debated, an outcome of the discussions is the realization that forecast process and collaborative decision making are key components in dealing with a volcanic ash crisis of this magnitude.

This presentation will discuss these issues and other lessons learned from the Eyjafjallajökull event.