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

• Published in: Geochemical Perspectives Letters
• Main Authors: Gíslason, Sigurður Reynir, Stefansdottir, Gerdur, Pfeffer, Melissa, Barsotti, Sara, Jóhannsson, Th., Galeczka, Iwona Monika, Bali, Eniko, Sigmarsson, Olgeir, Stefansson, Andri, Keller, Nicole Simone, Sigurðsson, Á., Bergsson, Bergur H., Galle, B., Jacobo, V.C, Arellano, S., Aiuppa, A., Jónasdóttir, Elín Björk, Eiríksdóttir, E.S., Jakobsson, Sigurður, Guðfinnsson, Guðmundur, Halldórsson, Sæmundur Ari, Gunnarsson, H., Haddadi, B., Jonsdottir, Ingibjorg, Thordarson, Thorvaldur, Riishuus, Morten, Högnadóttir, Thórdís, Dürig, Tobias, Pedersen, Gro, Höskuldsson, Ármann, Gudmundsson, Magnus Tumi
• Other Authors: Jarðvísindastofnun (HÍ), Institute of Earth Sciences (UI), Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: European Association of Geochemistry 2015
• Subjects: Volcanic gases; Holuhraun lava; Emission budget; Atmospheric pollution; Acid rain; Environmental impact; Eldgos; Gas; Hraun; Loftmengun; Súrt regn; Umhverfisáhrif; Holuhraun; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/447; https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.1509

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. Funding for the research came from the Icelandic government via the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency, the EC FP7 Framework programme via the Futurevolc project, the Swedish Research Council FORMAS supported the DOAS measurements Geochemical Perspectives Letters Letter Letter Geochemical Perspectives Letters 92 Geochem. Persp. Let. (2015) 1, 84-93 | doi:10.7185/geochemlet.1509 Geochem. Persp. Let. (2015) 1, 84-93 | doi:10.7185/geochemlet.1509 93 and The French centre of excellence “Clervolc” programme financed the microprobe analysis. We are grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, the Belgian Interregional Environment Agency, the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs in UK, and the Environment Agency of Austria for ground–level SO2 concentration data in air in the respective countries. Peer Reviewed