Aussie flights hinge on further eruptions

A massive ash cloud from an Indonesian volcano may disrupt aviation in parts of Australia. Source: AAP

THE resumption of flights across northern Australia depends on whether further volcanic eruptions in Indonesia amplify an already huge intercontinental plume of ash, an expert says.

Sangeang Api, a volcano off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, has erupted three times since Friday afternoon.

The volcano is about 300km east of the eastern tip of Java and about 1200km west-northwest of Darwin.

Flights to and from Darwin International Airport were cancelled on Saturday as the ash cloud spread across the Top End and towards Alice Springs.

The manager of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, said the cloud was dispersing as it spread south but the situation could change at any time.

He said there was a "pretty clear" stream of ash from the volcano across the Timor Sea, flowing west of Darwin and southeast to Alice Springs.

"If there is a big eruption in the next six to 12 hours, longer effect is more likely across Australia," he told AAP on Saturday afternoon.

Strong winds within a narrow jet stream had carried the ash at up to 150km/h towards central Australia but the ash was dissipating, he said.

"We're not expecting places like Brisbane or Sydney to be affected at this stage.

"The ash that is west of Darwin will affect Darwin for the next 18 hours, so it looks likely to hang around for a day or so.

"Regional aviation to places like Kununurra and even Derby (in Western Australia) may be affected but in terms of larger international airports only Darwin is affected."

The jet stream will move east over the 24 hours, changing wind direction and helping to further dissipate the ash, unless another large eruption spews more into the air.

The ash near Darwin is in a band between 10km and 15km in the air - the cruising altitude for commercial jet aircraft.

Virginia Sanders, a spokeswoman for Northern Territory Airports, said the Darwin terminal was quiet now.

Some travellers had arrived for flights not knowing services had been cancelled, she said.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Aussie flights hinge on further eruptions

Dengan url

https://tantanganbarusan.blogspot.com/2014/05/aussie-flights-hinge-on-further.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Aussie flights hinge on further eruptions

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Aussie flights hinge on further eruptions

sebagai sumbernya