A volcanic eruption that occurred in Iceland on Wednesday continues to interfere with international air travel as it continues to send smoke into the atmosphere, drastically reducing flying visibility. As of yesterday, nearly 200 flights in and out of Europe were canceled due to the plume of smoke. Officials can offer fliers very little in the way of a prediction as to when the smoke will clear. There is also concern that glass particles which were created by the eruption and glaciers encompassing the Eyjafjallajoekull area where the event occurred could interfere with the operation of aircraft. Officials had been exploring ways to reroute planes as of Wednesday. Some airlines have offered customers the ability to redeem a refund. Passengers at a number of airports worldwide continue to pace the terminals waiting to hear news about their flights.

The plume of ash continues to take shape as the winds stir it around. Some scientists predict that the eruption may continue for at least several weeks, sending even more smoke into the atmosphere. This could mean detrimental news to a number of fliers. There is some indication that the eruption may have a long-term environmental impact, although the full details are not known. Past evidence indicates that eruptions may have an effect on ozone levels in the atmosphere.