Environmental pressure from the 2014–15 eruption of Bárðarbunga volcano, Iceland
Journal article, 2015
The effusive six months long 2014-2015 Bárðarbunga eruption (31 August-27 February) was the largest in Iceland for more than 200 years, producing 1.6 ± 0.3 km3 of lava. The total SO2 emission was 11 ± 5 Mt, more than the amount emitted from Europe in 2011. The ground level concentration of SO2 exceeded the 350 μg m−3 hourly average health limit over much of Iceland for days to weeks. Anomalously high SO2 concentrations were also measured at several locations in Europe in September. The lowest pH of fresh snowmelt at the eruption site was 3.3, and 3.2 in precipitation 105 km away from the source. Elevated dissolved H2SO4, HCl, HF, and metal concentrations were measured in snow and precipitation. Environmental pressures from the eruption and impacts on populated areas were reduced by its remoteness, timing, and the weather. The anticipated primary environmental pressure is on the surface
waters, soils, and vegetation of Iceland.
volcanic eruption
SO2
Holuhraun
Author
S.R. Gislason
G. Stefánsdóttir
M.A. Pfeffer
S. Barsotti
Th. Jóhannsson
I. Galeczka
E. Bali
O. Sigarsson
A. Stefánsson
N.S. Keller
Á. Sigurdsson
B. Bergsson
Bo Galle
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Optical Remote Sensing
Alexander Vladimir Conde Jacobo
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Optical Remote Sensing
Santiago Arellano
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Optical Remote Sensing
A. Aiuppa
E.B. Jónasdóttir
E.S. Eiríksdóttir
S. Jacobsson
G.H. Gudfinnsson
S.A. Halldórsson
H. Gunnarsson
B. Haddadi
I. Jónsdóttir
Th Thordasson
M. Riishuus
Th. Högnadóttir
T. Dürig
G.B.M. Pedersen
Á. Höskuldsson
M.T. Gudmundsson
Geochemical Perspectives Letters
2410-3403 (ISSN)
Vol. 1 2015 84 - 93Roots
Basic sciences
Subject Categories
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences