Where does the poisonous gas go?

A poisonous gas cloud is currently moving across Northern Europe. Scientists are rushing to reassure on this matter cloud unlikely to cause serious health problemsbut it could affect the ozone hole over the Arctic.

An underground volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula on March 16 Exploded for the fourth time in the last few monthsIt opened the largest fissure of the current eruption cycle, releasing a massive lava flow that nearly engulfed the evacuated town of Grindavik. There were initially fears that the lava flow could reach the sea and release a cloud of hydrochloric acid that could be dangerous to anything near the coastline. However, the lava did not reach the shore.

However, the explosion released sulfur dioxide, a colorless, poisonous gas that can be extremely dangerous in high concentrations. On March 17, the volcano spewed approximately 50 kilograms of sulfur dioxide every second. Workers at the nearby Svartsengi power station were evacuated from the facility due to high gas levels and residents were warned to stay indoors.

Sulfur dioxide emissions have fallen significantly since March 18, but new data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), part of the European Union’s Copernicus program that monitors weather and climate change using satellite data, shows: The first gas leak created a dense smoke cloud 5 kilometers highit has since spread to other countries of Northern Europe.

Ozone danger

Sulfur dioxide It can react with atmospheric ozone molecules, reducing the amount of this protective substance in the ozone layerProtecting the Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

In October 2023, scientists attributed the nearly record-sized ozone hole over Antarctica in part to the 2022 eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga that released large amounts of water vapor and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, potentially depleting the ozone layer.

volcanoes in Iceland

Experts have recently predicted that: Eruptions in Iceland may mark the beginning of a new multi-century period of activity in the region. As a result, the amount of sulfur dioxide pumped into the Arctic may also increase over the next few years, leading to an increase in northern ozone holes in the future.

“The impact of volcanic eruptions in Iceland on the atmosphere is not yet that serious, but it is important to continue monitoring the development of the situation.”CAMS director Lawrence Ruil said in a statement.