Unleashing Curiosity, Igniting Discovery - The Science Fusion
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Unleashing Curiosity, Igniting Discovery - The Science Fusion

Lava erupting from a fissure close to Grindavik, Iceland, on 20 March

Related Press / Alamy Inventory Picture

The most recent eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland have emitted an enormous plume of sulphur dioxide (SO2) that’s presently drifting throughout Europe. Thankfully, it isn’t anticipated to have any important impact on climate or well being.

The SO2 plume moved throughout Eire and the UK in direction of Scandinavia on 20 March, the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service stated in the present day. It’s going to attain the Baltic states, Poland and Russia on Friday.

In Iceland, one particular person working on the Blue Lagoon resort on the Reykjanes Peninsula was admitted to hospital on 20 March after being uncovered to excessive ranges of SO2 fuel. Nonetheless, the plume shifting over Europe is effectively above floor degree and gained’t have an effect on the standard of the air beneath.

“The plume is at a better altitude,” says Mark Parrington on the Copernicus Ambiance Monitoring Service.

In November of final 12 months, a large crack 15 kilometres lengthy and several other kilometres deep shaped beneath a part of the Reykjanes peninsula. Magma that had accrued deeper down then poured into it on the quickest fee ever recorded.

On 18 December, lava started erupting alongside a part of this crack. There have now been 4 eruptions alongside it, with the most recent and largest but beginning on 17 March.

“The plume of SO2 throughout Europe was created through the preliminary section [of the latest eruption],” says Freysteinn Sigmundsson on the College of Iceland in Reykjavík.

The move fee has slowed because the preliminary section, says Freysteinn, however the eruption continues as of the afternoon of 21 March. “This eruption is completely different,” he says. “It’s now longer than the earlier ones.”

Some volcanic eruptions emit sufficient SO2 to have an effect on the worldwide local weather, however the Iceland eruption isn’t on something like this scale. The plume will probably be too short-lived to have an effect on the climate, says Parrington.

The Eyjafjallajökull eruptions in 2010 brought on main disruption to air visitors over Europe for per week or so, however the Reykjanes eruptions are of a unique type and aren’t anticipated to supply giant portions of ash.

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