A volcanic cloud is on its way to the UK today. Britons have been warned of the potential dangers. Weather maps show the bands of sulphur dioxide that form after a volcano in Iceland erupts.
The gas can deteriorate air quality and cause respiratory problems such as bronchitis. It can also irritate the nose, throat and lungs and cause coughing, wheezing, sputum production and asthma attacks.
It is mainly produced by the combustion of sulphurous fossil fuels such as coal and oil, but in this case it comes from another volcanic eruption in Iceland. Prof. Simon Carn of Michigan Technological University reported on the latest news on volcanic gas on X.
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He said: “Another load of #volcanic SO₂ is on its way to #UK/#Ireland caused by the recent #eruption on #Iceland’s #Reykjanes peninsula. May cause some local impacts on #airquality in the coming days. @eddy_weather @ScottishEPA.”
Lava has been pouring out of a volcano in southwest Iceland since an eruption on Thursday, August 22. It is the sixth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since last December. The eruption from a new fissure began shortly after 9pm following a series of strong earthquakes, reports The Mirror.
Within an hour, a four-kilometer-long crack ripped open the Sundhnúkur crater. The Foreign Ministry warned travelers to avoid Iceland after the eruption.
The FCDO said: “Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common in Iceland. Recently, there have been a number of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the most recent on 22 August.”
“These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area north of it. Icelandic authorities advise to stay away from this area. All roads to Grindavik and the surrounding area are closed. It is likely that there will be further outbreaks in this location. Follow local media for updates and follow authorities’ advice on travel to the area.
“Keflavik International Airport and the road to it are unaffected and are operating normally. The capital Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland are not affected by the outbreaks.”
“Volcanic activity is closely monitored for signs of unrest in Iceland’s 32 active volcanic systems. Infrastructure is designed to be robust, but not all events can be predicted and may pose risks to your travel plans, such as trip delays and cancellations, toxic volcanic gases, rockfalls and landslides, and sudden and major flooding.”
