Icelandic eruption is releasing unusual amounts of sulfur dioxide

Nature : On 29 August, the Icelandic volcano Bárðarbunga began erupting in a steady flow of lava that has not stopped. It has produced more lava than any Icelandic eruption since 1947, but the amount of sulfur dioxide it has released is far beyond any predictions. Nearly 35 000 tons of SO₂ is being released daily, twice as much as produced by all European industries combined. The high levels have caused breathing problems for nearby residents and have elevated pollution readings all the way into central Europe. The Icelandic Meteorological Office is attempting to track and provide warnings about the gas cloud’s movement. However, the volcano’s remote location and the onset of winter are making it hard to closely monitor the eruption. The timing of the eruption was good because it began in the middle of FUTUREVOLC , an ongoing study of vulcanism and the movement of magma.