CNN 2010-04-21

A volcano in Iceland had been dormant¹ for more than 180 years. But then a few weeks ago, this started. The volcano is erupting, and some scientists say it could last for more than a year. That's about how long it went the last time this happened，that was back in the 1820s. This time, the impact is being felt all across Europe. Here, you see London's Heathrow airport: planes on the ground, where you don't see them is in the sky. The UK is not alone in this. More than half a dozen countries cancelled flights yesterday. Up to 6,000 total across the European continent.

The problem is ash. When the volcano erupted, it sent this huge cloud of smoke and ash high up into the air. If a jet were to fly through that, it could cause the plane's engines to shut down. So, that's why there are so many cancellations. Rob Marciano looks at how weather and winds are playing a part in all of this.

The way the weather pattern is set up right now,and Iceland, obviously, to the north, but we've got this funky² upper air pattern about 30,000 feet, which is where that ash went to and where .the jets fly. And it's scooting around towards Scandinavia,back through parts of the UK and also into other parts of Western Europe.

Here is the, here it is the infrared³ satellite picture. You see it right there,kind of heading this way,that's the,that's the cloud.
 

1 dormant   

adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的

参考例句：

• Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
• This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。

2 funky   

adj.畏缩的，怯懦的，霉臭的；adj.新式的，时髦的

参考例句：

• The kitchen smelled really funky.这个厨房有一股霉味。
• It is a funky restaurant with very interesting art on the walls.那是一家墙上挂着很有意思的绘画的新潮餐馆。

3 infrared   

adj./n.红外线(的)

参考例句：

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。