Sand Shouldn't Stand In for Volcanic Ash in Jet Engine Tests

When Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in Iceland, spewing ash into the air, it was an expensive decision to ground all flights. The threat that ash poses to aircraft, crews, and passengers is real. When ash enters an aircraft turbine, which can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, the ash can melt, damaging the engines in midflight.

For decades, sand has been used to simulate the effects volcanic ash may have on aircraft. However, a new study covered by EARTH Magazine demonstrates big differences between the compositions and melting points of sand versus ash. To find out what this means for geoscience and the airline industry, read the August issue of EARTH Magazine:

http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/sand-shouldnt-stand-volcanic-ash-je....

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In This Issue:

• Hannibal’s Alps Adventure: Geoscience is being used to track down Hannibal’s route over the Alps.
• Vibrations Give Landslides Water-Like Properties: New research into how vibrations affect landslides.
• Most Influential Images in Geology: A primer on the most influential images in the field of geology.
• Travels in Geology: Experience the science for yourself, either on vacation or from your favorite reading chair.