The Reykjanes volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula triggered a sweeping plume of sulfur dioxide (SO2) that moved across Northern Europe, and the situation was monitored by authorities in Iceland and beyond.
In a briefing from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, figures released on March 17 indicated an emission rate of roughly 50 kilograms of sulfur dioxide every second from Reykjanes. Evacuations were ordered for workers at the nearby Svartsengi power plant due to elevated gas levels, and local residents received advisories to remain indoors to minimize exposure. These actions were issued in coordination with Icelandic Civil Protection and reflected a precautionary approach to the evolving plume.
Sulfur dioxide is produced when sulfur-bearing rocks are heated by volcanic activity and combine with oxygen in the air. It is a colorless gas characterized by a sharp, recognizable odor. In low concentrations, it can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, while higher doses may impair breathing, provoke coughing, and complicate respiratory conditions in vulnerable individuals. Excess exposure can also contribute to nosebleeds and a feeling of throat constriction. On a broader scale, sulfur dioxide contributes to the formation of acid rain, which can affect soil, water bodies, and vegetation.
By March 18, the emissions shown by European satellite monitoring and atmospheric analysis indicated a notable decline in the plume’s strength. This decline was tracked as the plume dispersed and the concentration at ground level diminished in the immediate areas downwind of the eruption.
Early observations noted that the sulfur dioxide cloud rose to several kilometers above the surface. Models based on satellite data and atmospheric transport simulations suggested the gas cloud traveled northeast across Northern Europe, with the plume moving toward the United Kingdom and then toward the Scandinavian region. As these models were refined, they indicated that by the time any potential reach toward Russia might occur, the plume would have largely dispersed and its concentration would fall to nonhazardous levels for most populations.
Experts assess that while the volcanic sulfur dioxide cloud presents limited immediate danger to humans, it carries potential implications for environmental systems, including impacts on the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. The event underscores how volcanic gases can influence air quality far from their source and how rapid monitoring helps authorities issue timely protective guidance for residents and travelers alike.
As scientists continue to study the eruption, ongoing observations focus on the dynamics of lava fountains, gas release rates, and how such activity correlates with changes in magma transport beneath the surface. Understanding these processes helps geologists explain why certain eruptions produce vigorous lava fountains and how volatile emissions evolve throughout an eruption, which in turn informs risk assessments and emergency planning for neighboring regions.