Oil depot explosion
12 December 2005
The NERC/Met Office BAe146 research aircraft flew on Monday 12 December to assess the extent and impact of the smoke plume produced by a large explosion at an oil depot in Hemel Hempstead, near London, and recorded by NERC's British Geological Survey.
Photograph: Satellite imagery of smoke from oil depot. Courtesy NERC's Dundee Satellite Receiving Station.
The plume was relatively stationary on Sunday, and could be monitored by satellites, however, by Monday morning high cloud cover prevented satellite monitoring and the Met Office requested NERC support to use the BAe146 to locate the plume boundaries.
The plane flew over the south coast of England to track the plume.
The edge of the plume was detected at 2000m over Portland Bill, indicated by above-average particulate levels.
The aircraft also sampled carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone levels, although calibrated results will not be available until later in the week.
The plume appears to be dispersing as winds increase, and appears to be remaining fairly high in the atmosphere with little impact at ground level.
Improved satellite imagery acquired late Monday also shows that the plume is much fainter than on Sunday.
Further information
NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215
Press release: 58/05
External links
- British Geological Survey earthquake seismology
- Nature: Burning oil depot plagues England's skies
- New Scientist: Spill or leak may have ignited oil depot blaze
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