Eyjafjallajökull eruption plume heading westnorthwest from the eruption site 27 April 2010, as seen at 12:00 GMT at an elevation of 3-3.6 km (10-12,000 ft). Light coloured, low-lying clouds of steam were observed over the eruption site, together with occasional bursts of grey to black-coloured cloud, which rise to up to half of the total height of the eruption plume. Above this level, the plume was lighter in colour with a capping of white cloud (not visible here).