Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A volcanic ash cloud is produced from the magma -- molten rock -- of a volcano. This ash is made of tiny jagged pieces of rock and glass that do not dissolve in water. The ash cloud also includes gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride and helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. These gases are dissolved in the molten rock of the volcano and are released into the air during eruptions; the magma ejected solidifies into the glass-like particles of the ash. When combined with rain and lightning, this gritty ash can result in power and communications outages and cause people and animals to become disoriented.
Volcanic ash expelled from Chile's Puyehue volcano was recorded at heights of 20 miles or more in the upper atmosphere, according to Reuters news service. Volcanic ash clouds are moved by prevailing winds before the bulk of the ash descends to earth. Vestiges of it can stay in the atmosphere for months. When combined with water in the atmosphere volcanic ash produces acid rain, which can harm crops and livestock.
Volcanic ash clouds in the upper atmosphere can be very dangerous for aircraft that fly through or near them, according to Finnair's Ekman. The turbine engines of a modern jet airliner heat up to around 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Volcanic ash silicates melt at around 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. When volcanic ash is sucked into a jet engine, it melts in the compressor. As it moves to cooler parts of the engine, the glass particles become solid again and can block the flow of air to the engine, causing it to stall. The ash also can stick to the front of the aircraft, resulting in faulty instrument readings.
Volcanic ash, which is very abrasive, can cause severe structural damage to an aircraft. The "International Business Times" described in June 2011 how, even if an airliner survives being flown through a volcanic ash cloud, it can suffer so much damage it results in a total financial loss.
In 2010, the economic effects of the Icelandic volcanic ash plume resulted in widespread economic losses, Reuters news service reported. The Icelandic event reportedly caused 100,000 cancelled flights affecting 10 million travelers and costing the airlines involved $1.7 billion. The U.S. Travel Association estimated daily losses at $130 million a day for six days when 87 percent of the flights between the nation and Europe were canceled because of the danger of ash clouds. The USTA said the losses put 6,000 U.S. travel-industry-related jobs at risk.