On April 15, 2010 Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland caused numerous airlines to cancel or delay many flights around the world. The volcano eruption cost some airlines more than two billion dollars because of the delays and cancellations of flights. Iceland’s main airport is reopening for flights to take off for the first time since the eruption occurred. Flights around Europe were suspended for more than ten days after the eruption. More than 100,000 flights were cancelled. The effect on air traffic is unpredictable. The eruption may stop tomorrow but it could still effect air traffic for many months after.

      The volcano has been dormant for more than 200 years, the last volcanic eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area occurred in 1821. The last time the volcano erupted it lasted more than a year. So there is no telling how long this one will last. The volcano is erupting small, jagged pieces of rock and minerals. It may have a long term effect on the planet, its climate and public health. It is being said that the eruption could cause global warming or cooling. Scientists will be watching for long term effects on the climate. It’s choking its home island, Iceland in a thick cloud of dust and a huge plume of ash. The ash is drifting eastward grounding European air traffic. In a slow and very round about way the plume of ash is headed toward us. The ash at lower levels will be washed out of the atmosphere by weather. It takes a long time for the particles to settle out and during that time they reflect away a little bit of the sun’s energy from the earth to help cool the climate.

      The potential eruption of Iceland's volcano Katla could send the world, including the USA, into an extended deep freeze. Luckily the volcano hasn’t awoken yet. Scientists say that an eruption of the Katla volcano might not even happen. The last three times Eyjafjallajökull erupted it triggered the eruption for Katla. Katla is an even more powerful volcano than Eyjafjallajökull.

       The Volcano erupted for the second time in a month causing a huge cloud of ash. It melted ice and shot smoke and steam forcing nearby citizens to flee rising floods. The eruption destroyed millions of flowers in Kenya because the flowers cannot be exported to other countries due to flight cancellations caused by the cloud of ash from the volcano. The head of the Kenya flower company said that local growers have been forced to destroy 3,000 tons of flowers which takes a major toll on Kenya’s economy.