Problem For the ideas in Problem P2.29, create a table that lists the advantages

Question

Problem

For the ideas in Problem P2.29, create a table that lists the advantages and disadvantages of each idea and make a recommendation about which idea would be the best, considering technical effectiveness, cost, environmental issues, and societal impact.

Reference: Problem P2.29

In 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted, impacting millions of lives by disrupting air travel throughout Europe for weeks. Generate five ideas for a system that could prevent future ash clouds from this volcano from impacting European air traffic !

Explanation / Answer

The economic, cultural and political activities in Europe as well as throughout the world were affected by the eruption of the Eyjafzallajokull volcano in Island. Due to the eruption several flights were cancelled due to which many passengers were affected worldwide. This air traffic shut down was the largest since world war II. Since flying through an ash cloud can severely damage the air craft engine, wind shields etc and is extremely hazardous so flights were cancelled to avoid this situation.

Impact on the aviation from the ash cloud can be reduced by following ways:

1. If prior information about the volcano is given to the aviation industry this would give them more to could make appropriate changes in the arrangement for the flights. This could be done if the information on the build up phase of volcano is given to them since the change can be detected and monitored through the satellite images. Since most of the volcano give some warning signs indicating the unrestness in the earth's crust.

2. Many countries which are operating satellites have sensors that can detect the presence of ash cloud. These satellites sensors operate over a range of electromagentic spectrum and can detect easily the emission of volcanic ash. For eg. ultraviolet is used to detect volcanic ash and sulphur dioxide gas which erupts during the volcano. Similarly visible is used for detecting volcanic aerosols and thermal infrared in detecting volcanic ash. Such devices could be used to detect the origin of volcano eruptions and ash clouds that can be used in give information so that the flights can be strategically planned

3. Computers models can be simulated to predict the transport or the route of the volcanic ash. These required inputs about the height of the eruption, current or forecasted wind direction, wind velocity, location and time of the eruption, duration of the eruption, volume of the ash erupted can be used to give output of the transport of the ash cloud to a given location at a given time. These information can be given to the aviation industry so they can make their flight routes according to this and thus can be used to minimize the impact.

4. To avoid the impact of the volcanic hazard there must be strengthened communication between pilots,metereologists, volcanologists, atmospheric modelers, air traffic controllers, federal agencies, dispatchers and the common people across the global boundaries. The communication is an important factor in mitigating any hazard.

5. Operation training must be given to the pilots and the dispatchers to control the hazard. They should know how to implement the information given to them in the planning of the lights which provide minimum damage to the aircraft like they should be capable of identifying whether they have entered into the ash cloud, pre planning the flight route. The pilots and the dispatcher who frequently fly to the active volcanic routes and those who have sustained the hazard prior must be given preference. In this way the impact of the volcano can be mitigated.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse P
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.