A toxic gas cloud from volcanic eruptions near Grindavik, Iceland, is making its way across the UK, prompting warnings from the Met Office. The cloud, containing sulphur dioxide, initially reached the Scottish Highlands over the weekend and is expected to cover the entire UK before dissipating by Wednesday evening. Meteorological experts have been monitoring the cloud’s movement, projecting it to affect the Midlands before reaching the South early on Tuesday.
Although the gas poses health risks such as throat irritation, nausea, and abdominal pain with high exposure levels, experts believe that the concentrations in the UK will keep ground-level air pollution low. The sulphur dioxide comes from a combination of burning coal, crude oil, and volcanic emissions. The recent volcanic activity in Iceland, with six eruptions since December, has contributed to the release of this gas into the atmosphere.
Despite the potential health hazards posed by the gas cloud, the Met Office assures that air pollution levels are currently low and are expected to remain so across the UK. Iceland’s unique geological landscape, located atop two divergent tectonic plates, has led to spectacular volcanic activity but also tragic incidents. Over the weekend, a glacier cave collapse near the volcanic site resulted in one fatality, one severely injured individual, and a search operation for two missing individuals.
As seismic shifts continue in Iceland, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and responding to incidents caused by the geological activity. The Met Office remains vigilant in tracking any further sulphur dioxide releases originating from the Icelandic eruptions, with the focus on ensuring minimal impact on the UK’s air quality in the coming days.