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Volcanic ash clouds and volcanologists trying to get to Australia!

Puyehue volcano erupting on June 6, 2011,
producing ash that has now (June 21) travelled around
the world one and a half times.
Photo by Francisco Negroni,
Agenci Uno/European Pressphoto AgencyMy next few weeks of travel, as well as those of tens of thousands around the world trying to get to and from Australia are going to be interesting! I'm scheduled to go to the joint meeting of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI). The reason? The on-going eruption of Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile. The ash from this volcano has travelled across the southern Atlantic Oceans, under Africa and on to the Indian Ocean, impacting Australia and New Zealand along the way. A lot of volcanologists, who normally love volcanic eruptions, are going to be tic'd off at this one! Especially our colleague, Ray Cas, who is the Chairman of the joint Australia and New Zealand Organising (yes, that's spelled correctly--it's Aussie) Committee!!

Good luck, Ray!

The ash would not have normally come near Australia, according to Andrew Tupper, head of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. However, the jet stream brought a low pressure system that grabbed some of the ash cloud. Tupper is optimistic that it will clear out in a day or two. Tupper says that "The low pressure system, although it is annoying, does have the beneficial effect that it's helping to break up the cloud itself, perhaps stopping it from coming around (over Australia) a third time." The ash has now gone around the world one and a half times.

Posting will be irregular this summer, check back and have a good summer as well (or, winter if you are "down under"!)

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