A volcanic eruption in Iceland sends a huge cloud of sulfur dioxide reaching Spain
In Iceland there is one erupting volcano With an almost unpronounceable name: sundhanuksgigar. This is the sixth time it has erupted since last December and the town of Grindavik, on the southwestern tip of the island, has been forced to be evacuated. There is nothing extraordinary in the news up to this point, although it may seem untrue: the country has 33 active volcanic systems and is prepared and accustomed to the effects. The point is that This time it is not only releasing huge amounts of lavaBut releasing huge amounts of sulfur dioxide He They have already arrived in Spain And they will remain in the atmosphere till tomorrow.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that Sundnuksgígar erupted on Thursday afternoon, following an “intense series of small earthquakes.” Specifically, a The crack is 3.9 kilometers long And then there’s the small volcanic field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which had been dormant for 800 years. However, in early 2020 a intense seismic activity And Magma erupted in 2021. Since then, there have been nine explosions.
The 3.9 kilometer-long eruption of the Sundnuksgígar volcano near Grindavik, Iceland on August 23, 2024. / AFP / Public Defense Department of the Icelandic State Police
The amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) The IMO says the magnitude of the volcanic activity that has been continuing since Thursday has not yet been determined. However, Air Flow They are moving forward A cloud of this poisonous and colorless gas towards Southern Europe. weather map show that last night it arrived in the United Kingdom and France, and a few hours later, touched down North of the Iberian Peninsula,
It will be on Spain and Catalonia until this Monday
Vast OS Cloud2 At 04:00 this Sunday morning it has completely covered England and by 09:00 half of the island is under its influence. While, has crossed the French country from west to eastBut with lower concentrations, since the main mass has circulated through the Atlantic Ocean until reaching Spain.
High concentrations They are seen in Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias, parts of Castilla y Leon and the Basque Country, and they move towards Catalonia, especially towards the Pyrenees. However, SO particles2 They will cover the entire peninsula by tomorrow afternoon The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) says they will dissolve into the atmosphere as the days go by. Development Map Cloudy through Monday.
Sulfur dioxide and its characteristics
OS2 It is produced mainly by the combustion of coal or crude oil, but volcanoes also produce large quantities when they erupt. The gas is not visible to the naked eye, but it is is understood by smell: is a feature Pungent and irritating odor People commonly describe it as smelling like rotten eggs.
The reason may be irritation to eyes and respiratory tract. The most common symptoms are sore throat, cough, runny nose, burning eyes, tightness in the lungs and difficulty breathing. On contact with the skin, it can cause redness and blisters. However, the terrestrial concentration of this gas cloud is modest They do not represent a real threat to health., Only a slight sulphur smell can be felt.,
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