Iceland Volcano Erupts, UK Monitors Sulphur Dioxide Cloud
The Met Office monitors a sulphur dioxide cloud from Iceland, ensuring minimal health impact and safety.
Since the eruption of a volcano in Iceland last Thursday, the Met Office has been monitoring a sulphur dioxide cloud that has been edging over the UK since early Sunday morning. Despite the UK people’s concerns, the cloud that swathed the whole country is now ebbing away towards southeastern Europe with minor residual effects still noticeable on parts of the Scottish Highlands.
Iceland’s volcano based in reykjanes peninsula erupted spewing a huge mass of sulphur dioxide. This is a gas that is often produced by burning fossil fuel and ranks as one of the main pieces of the time element produced by volcanic eruption. Following the last few days, the entire UK area was covered by the cloud though the Met office has stated to the people that it’s currently positioned at a greater height above the surface and it will only disperse into the surface with very little trace.
The gas which currently is only high above the surface level has very little negative health effects though it is understood to cause problems in breathing and coughing among other respiratory effects. However, the Met office and other health organizations are now closely monitoring the current situation and the health effects, therefore people with respiratory problems are advised to keep updated. Furthermore, scientists like Dr. Massimo Vieno from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology quoted in BBC report, that such systems of events are rare and the air pollution by international regulations won’t cast environmental destruction so the current situation is also safe.
The social media has been swirling at the effects but people living in the affected areas are now updated. The incidence is a wakeup call especially for the environmental management studies. The current scenario is also likely to give Iceland heightened emission from the volcano. The Met Office UK report has stated that they are now monitoring the situation if such more clouds and gases are emitted. The whole cloud is now fading away from the surface and it is moving over other parts of Europe and it’s well positioned by Met Office. The UK is assured of no more emissions from Iceland onto the surface and it either moves over eastern of it. Keen registration at the airport by the meteorological agencies and other environmental bodies is a proof that UK’s safety is guaranteed for similar incidences in future.