A volcanoCumbreVieja erupted Sunday September 19 on the island of La Palmain the Spanish archipelago of the Canariesleading to the evacuation of more than 6,000 people due to material damagebut without having caused any casualties or injuries so far.
This volcanogenerates since a large amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the form of clouds in the air.
According to the European Institute Copernicuswho monitorsthe air quality,the cloudoufré, which passed over Spain, was observedin the South of the France this Thursday, September 23, in very low concentration. According to his predictions, it is between Friday 24 and Monday 27 that the clouds of sulfur dioxide should really be present in the country. Perhaps you will then observe a slight mist in the sky.
#Copernicus for #LaPalmaEruption
In addition to the lava flow, the #volcano is releasing a large amount of SO2 into the atmosphere.
⬇️Sulphur dioxide forecast provided by our Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service #CAMS for 24 Sep at 9:00 UTC (visualization by @Windycom) pic.twitter.com/1J7yHeboAx
— Copernicus EU (@CopernicusEU) September 22, 2021
Do these clouds pose health risks?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the main air pollutants with among others nitrogen oxide or compounds ovolatile organic matter (VOC). He isbest known for being emitted following the combustion of fossil fuels (fuel oil, coal, diesel, etc.), some factories can also release SO2 into the air. But sometimes it can also be emitted by Nature, via volcanic eruptions.
“This pollutant causes irritation of the mucous membranes, the skin and the respiratory tract (cough, embarrassed breathing, asthmatic disorders). It also promotes acid rain and degrades stone“, explains the Ministry of Ecology.
So, should we be worried this weekend?“The sulfur particles emitted by the eruption spread as far as France, but in very small proportions. There will be no consequences at ground level on the weather and air quality”, noted this September 23, the Weather Channel.
In the columns of Free lunchMark parringtonscientist at the research center Copernicus, estimates that the SO2 emitted by the volcano” present no immediate danger“. And for good reason:Concentrations in the air are not high enough to affect air quality and therefore health. “Most of the SO2 emitted is found much higher in the atmosphere, especially as you move away from the source,”he explains.
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