CATEGORY Air quality

An overview of the activity in Bardarbunga and the volcanic eruption in Holuhraun

Today, December 3rd 2014, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection reviewed data about the development of events in Bardarbunga and the volcanic eruption in Holuhraun, from the beginning of the unrest until the present day. Most of the data show a decline in the subsidence of the Bardarbunga caldera and the volcanic…

High values of SO2 in North and Northwest Iceland – updated

High values of SO2 have been measured in North and Northwest Iceland this morning. Akureyri has seen over 4000µg/m³, Stykkisholmur 2700µg/m³ and Saudarkrokur over 5000 µg/m³. According to latest measurements the pollution is no longer detectable in Saudarkrokur. Information on response can be found here on our page. Information on air quality can be found…

High values of sulfuric dioxide (SO2) in Höfn in Hornafjörður and the surrounding area

High values of sulfuric dioxide (SO2) are now measured in Höfn in Hornafjörður and the surrounding area, in the Eastfjords of Iceland. Measurements show that SO2 is between 9.000 and 21.000 micrograms per cubic meter. The Department of Civil Protection has sent out text messages to mobile phones in the area. Civil Protection urges the…

Gas pollution will affect the northern part of Iceland today

From the Icelandic Met Office: Today (Thursday) gas pollution from the eruption will affect areas in the northern part of Iceland. Tomorrow (Friday) pollution can be expected in the areas north and east of the eruption. The Gas Dispersion Forecast can be read on this web link. On the same site, here, you can find…

Pollution to the northeast and to the southeast tomorrow

Today (Sunday), gas pollution can be expected in the NE of Iceland. Tomorrow (Monday) the pollution will move to the east and later southeast of the eruption site. We are expecting the first real snowstorm this autumn on Monday morning, especially in the north. The weather forecast for Sunday is fair with some rain, but…

Gas pollution northeast of the volcano

This morning the gas pollution from Holuhraun has been mostly towards the northeast of the volcano. SMS warning messages were sent to all mobile phones in the area of Jökuldalur around noon, since the SO2 values were measured quite high. Handheld gas detectors that have been in use around Iceland, measured increased concentration of SO2 in the northeast and southeast of the country, especially in Borgarfjörður eystri and…

Icelandic Met Office – Daily forecasting of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) spread and concentration

The Icelandic Met Office measures SO2 at the eruption site and issues daily forecast on SO2 concentration in the atmosphere based on SO2 measurements and weather conditions. This is a link for the spread forecast (in Icelandic language): 2 days spread forecast There are 2 maps that show forecast for current day (green spread area) and for the next day (pink…

Daily forecasting of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration

The Icelandic Met Office mesasures SO2 at the eruption site and issues daily forecast on SO2 concentration in the atmosphere based on SO2 measurements and weather conditions. Today the forecast of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration is high in the vicinity of the eruption and surrounding area. The pollution can be expected to move towards Hofsjökull and Tungnárjökull to the south,…

Sulphur dioxide from the eruption in Holuhraun

Today light southwesterly winds are expected at the eruption site in Holuhraun. Areas norheast of the eruption site can be affected by pollution. They are marked by Mt. Herðubreið in the north to Mt. Kárahnjúkar in the south. So Sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration could become high in the eruption vicinity in Holuhraun and to the…

Notes from the meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Civil Protection 15. September

Bárðarbunga: 15.09.2014, 11:30 UTC Scientists from the Icelandic Met Office and the Institute of Earth Sciences and representatives of the Civil Protection in Iceland attend the meetings of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Icelandic Civil Protection. A representative from The Environment Agency of Iceland and Icelandic Directorate of Health was also present. Conclusions of…