Iceland volcano eruption releases gigantic toxic gas cloud flying towards Europe

A massive cloud of toxic gas, which was released from Iceland’s ongoing volcanic eruption, is moving across northern Europe.

How did the volcano release sulfur dioxide?

An underground volcano erupted for the fourth time in Icealnd’s Reykjanes Peninsula on March 16 opening up the largest fissure of the current eruption cycle and releasing a massive lava flow which narrowly stopped from flowing into the evacuated town of Grindavík.

Initially, the researchers feared that the lava could reach the sea and release a plume of hydrochloric acid which can be “life-threatening” to anyone who is living close to the coastline. However, the lava did not reach the shore.

Iceland volcano spews fountains of lava as massive eruption prompts state of emergency

But sulfur dioxide, which is a toxic and colourless gas and can be very dangerous if present in high concentrations, was released in the eruption.

The volcano spitted 110 pounds of sulfur dioxide every second on March 17, as per a statement from the Icelandic Met Office.

According to Iceland’s Civil Protection, the workers in the Svartsengi power plant had to be evacuated because of high levels of the gas and locals were asked to remain inside.

Eventually, sulfur dioxide emissions significantly decreased, however, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) data showed that the initial release of gas created a 3-mile-tall (5 kilometres) concentrated column which is moving towards other nations in northern Europe.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is part of the European Union’s Copernicus programme which has been tracking climate and weather changes with the use of satellite data.

Iceland volcano still pouring out fountains of lava

The cloud of gas has already crossed the United Kingdom and is moving towards Scandinavia.

CAMS will be tracking the plume “although we don’t expect there to be any impact on surface air quality or climate,” said senior CAMS scientist Mark Parrington, said in a statement to Live Science.

“The impacts of the volcanic eruptions in Iceland in the atmosphere have not yet been so severe, but it is relevant to keep monitoring the evolution of the situation,” said CAMS director Laurence Rouil.