If the volcano in Iceland kept spewing out dust for months or years...

[sandyRoe]

how would that affect the economy of Europe?

[mollykins]

badly i imagine, but shipping companies would do well. The last time this volcano erupted, it lasted for two years.

[jno]

if nobody could fly for years, that would make quite a difference to modern life. Staycation, anyone?

[mollykins]

Yes, but there would be more of them, meaning there would be more competition, which would drive prices down.

[sandyRoe]

Not necessarily so, Mollykins. There are a number of ferry companies sailing between Northern Ireland and Scotland. There fares are exactly the same.

[mollykins]

more ferries, if that was one of the only options.

[mollykins]

They'd only be ferries, eurotunnel and private, low flying airplanes.

[flobadob]

If it kept going I wonder would it eventually block out the sun?

[sandyRoe]

They used to talk of a 'nuclear winter'. Maybe we're in the early stages of a volcanic winter.

[beso]

John Cleese took a taxi across Europe. Only cost him $5,000.

[beso]

Iceland's volcanic activity is known to be cyclical witha period of about 50 to 80 years and it is now on the upswing. At its peak these sort of eruptions occur as often as every four years. The peak should be expected around 2035.

http://www.newscienti...landic-fireworks.html

[SIRandyraven]

Of course the volcano erupting at the moment is only the smaller of the two linked volcano. The larger one is still to erupt. Probability is that it will ..always has in the past, when the smaller one does.
Of course we will no longer see some foods in the shops out of season or those that can't de grown in the uk.
The people of Kenya will be the first to be hit ....no exports to Europe of Roses and cash crops ...

Google Yellowstone volcano ...now that will kill us all :-)

Iceland stole our cash and has sent us ash

[jno]

Robert Peston is worried about the economic effects

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8627545.stm

[NoMercy]

I would have thought any potential eruption in Yellowstone to be big enough to decimate a large proportion of the United States, but cataclysmic enough to wipe out the entire world? I wouldn't have thought any eruption would reach as far as Europe??

[boxtops]

More ferries isn't possible at the moment molly, I live near the major port for the continent and there is no space on any ferry for passenger vehicles for the next few days. The place is heaving with people with suitcases who have caught the train over from Gatwick in hopes of travelling by train (but I heard French trains were on strike yesterday, hey ho).
Bring back the balloon!

[redman41]

Perishable goods are lying in Warehouse all over Europe and will be starting to rot spelling disaster for some exporters. Just emphasises how important Aircraft are to the Economy.