Europe's volcanic ash cloud: What you need to know

The towering cloud of rock dust has grounded flights across northern Europe. What now?

The eruption in Iceland disrupted travel plans worldwide.
(Image credit: Corbis)

Volcanic ash from Iceland has grounded planes across Europe, causing havoc for travelers and businesses around the world. The Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting on March 20, and has continuously belched out ash, steam and smoke ever since. The eruption worsened signifcantly on Wednesday, creating a plume over a large swath of the continent. (See footage of the ash cloud.) Follow is a brief guide to Iceland's volcanic ash catastrophe:

How big is this cloud of ash?

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