Environmental pressure from the 2014–15 eruption of Bárðarbunga volcano, Iceland

• Published in: Geochemical Perspectives Letters
• Main Authors: Gislason, S.R., Stefánsdóttir, G., Pfeffer, M.A., Barsotti, S., Jóhannsson, T., Galeczka, I., Bali, E., Sigmarsson, Olgeir, Stefánsson, Andri, N.S., Keller, Sigurdsson, A., Bergsson, B., Galle, B., Jacobo, V.C., Arellano, Santiago, Aiuppa, A., Jónasdóttir, E.B., Eiríksdóttir, E.S., Jakobsson, Sigurdur, Guðfinnsson, G.H., Halldórsson, S.A., Gunnarsson, H., Haddadi, B., Jónsdóttir, I., Thordarson, Thor, Riishuus, Morten S., Högnadóttir, Thórdís, Dürig, T., Pedersen, G.D.M., Höskuldsson, Ármann, Gudmundsson, M.T.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV), Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand (OPGC), Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Icelandic Meteorological Office, Department of Earth and Space Sciences Göteborg, Chalmers University of Technology Göteborg, Università degli studi di Palermo - University of Palermo, Fluids and Volatiles Laboratory, University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), University of California (UC)-University of California (UC), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand (OPGC), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Iceland Reykjavik
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.GC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geochemistry; Bardarbunga; Iceland
• Online Access: https://uca.hal.science/hal-02115370; https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.1509

International audience The effusive six months long 2014-2015 Bardarbunga eruption (31 August- 27 February) was the largest in Iceland for more than 200 years, producing 1.6 +/- 0.3 km(3) 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 mu g 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.