- MACC Eyjafjallajökull Plume Forecast (Credit MACC)
MACC has the capability to make pre-operational plume forecasts using its advanced data assimilation system for atmospheric composition. Assumptions have to be made about the amount of gas and ash, particle size and weight, and the height of the injection of these constituents into the atmosphere. The latter depends to a large extent on the explosiveness of the eruption.
The animation available on the MACC website shows the plume of a sulphur-dioxide-like tracer (total columns) as forecasted by the MACC system with the London VAAC injection height estimate. Work is in progress to extend the current capability of gas plume forecasts to include forecasts of volcanic ash particles.