A few days ago I posted an article saying that Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano was pumping out 35,000 tons of sulphur dioxide per day, more than twice the amount spewed from all of Europe’s smokestacks.
Turns out that it’s even worse than that.
According to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RUV, some 40,000 to 60,000 tons of sulphur dioxide spew out of Bárðarbunga every single day.
The Holuhraun eruption is the second biggest effusive eruption in Iceland when it comes to SO2 pollution since the 18th century, says geophysicist Pall Einarsson, professor at the University of Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences. Pollution levels have sometimes reached dangerous levels, especially in eastern Iceland.
Started small – getting bigger
The Holuhraun lavafield has been growing steadily, reaching 70 sq km (27 sq miles) in recent days. The volume is also impressive; with over 1 cubic kilometer of lava erupted.
Only the Laki eruption in 1783 – 1784 was bigger, with 15 cubic kilometers of erupted lava.
For comparison, all of Manhattan covers 59.5 sq km (22.96 sq miles) of land.
http://www.ruv.is/frett/over-1-km%C2%B3-of-lava-erupted-at-holuhraun
http://iceagenow.info/2014/10/bardarbunga-volcano-pumping-35000-tons-sulphur-dioxide-day/
Thanks to DMH and Chris Beal for these links
