ENVIRONMENT
Iceland volcano spread sulphur dioxide across Europe
August 30, 2024 - After several eruptions this year, Iceland’s Reykjanes volcano saw another on August 22, spreading a plume of sulphur dioxide across northwestern Europe for several days.
Related Graphics
View More
Significant wildfires plagued the world in 2024
Air pollution in Delhi soars to extremely severe levels
How lights on surfboards could deter sharks from attacking
Lahore pollution 120 times higher than safe levels
2024 on track to be 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
Amazon deforestation falls to lowest since 2015
UN warns of “disastrous” 3.1°C temperature rise
World’s first paper bottle and cap enters production
Hurricane Milton batters Florida, destroying homes
Deadly hurricane Milton bears down on Tampa, Florida
Florida braces for arrival of Hurricane Milton
Experiment to refreeze Arctic sea ice deemed a success
Mothballed firefighting plane back in production
Global hotspots that topped 50°C in 2024
The summer of 2024 was the world’s hottest ever recorded
The shipwrecked Lego washing up on Europe’s beaches
Global shortage of cocoa beans
48,000 Europeans died from hot weather last year
July ends 13-month run of global heat records
World's biggest iceberg spins in ocean trap
Vital ocean current at risk of collapse
Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl
Earliest known category four hurricane barrels into Caribbean
City temperatures are rising around the world
Bid to curb rhino poaching
Huge emissions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Indonesia’s new capital city is 80% complete
2023 declared hottest year on record
Germany’s deadly floods spreading along Danube
Last year’s summer was the hottest in 2,000 years
A volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has seen significant activity this year, erupting again on August 22 and spreading a plume of toxic gas across northwestern Europe.
The Reykjanes volcano has erupted six times since December 2023 – the latest of which sent high concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, the highest levels of which were between 5-8 kilometres up.
The measured and forecast SO2 concentrations were below the EU recommended exposure threshold, although measurements also show increased concentrations of SO2 at ground level.