August 26th 2024.
According to weather forecasters, the plume of sulphur dioxide that was released from a volcanic eruption in Iceland is expected to make a return tomorrow. The gas cloud, which covered parts of the UK on Sunday, is set to reappear early tomorrow morning. It originally came from the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland and moved over the country yesterday morning before heading southeast towards Europe.
Sulphur dioxide is a colorless gas with a strong odor that is commonly released during coal burning and other refining or manufacturing processes. It is also a byproduct of erupting volcanoes. If inhaled at high levels, this gas can cause throat irritation, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. However, the Met Office has assured that the gas has been released high into the atmosphere and should not have a significant impact on ground-level air quality.
The forecast predicts that the sulphur dioxide cloud will once again cover parts of the UK on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is expected to approach the country around 6am on Tuesday and gradually cover the lower and middle regions before dissipating around 7pm on Wednesday. This information was gathered from data provided by Czech weather portal Windy.
Yesterday, a spokesperson from the Met Office stated that the impacts of the sulphur dioxide have been low, as it has remained in the upper atmosphere and has not affected ground-level air quality. They also added that they will continue to monitor any potential releases of sulphur dioxide from Iceland, but current forecasts show little concern for surface air pollution in the coming days.
The volcanic eruption in Iceland, which began on Thursday night after a series of strong earthquakes, has caused a state of emergency to be declared in the country. The eruption originated from the Sundhnúks crater row, located in the south-west of Iceland near Grindavik. Footage shows red hot lava bubbling up and pouring out of the crater, with reports estimating that the lava flow has traveled about 1km in just 10 minutes.
Despite the impressive display of nature's power, authorities have reassured that the effects of the eruption remain localized and do not pose a threat to the population. However, it has resulted in road closures and the nearby town of Grindavik has been mostly abandoned since 2023 when the volcano first erupted after 800 years of dormancy.
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