Short- and long-term weather and environmental effects 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull

possible ash fallout eyjafjallajökull on car, manchester, england, 21 april 2010

at mouth of crater, gases, ejecta, , volcanic plume have created rare weather phenomenon known volcanic lightning (or dirty thunderstorm ). when rocks , other ejecta collide 1 another, create static electricity. this, abundant water-ice @ summit, aids in making lightning.

high-fluoride hekla eruptions pose threat foraging livestock, sheep. fluoride poisoning can start in sheep @ diet fluorine content of 25 ppm. @ 250 ppm, death can occur within few days. in 1783, 79% of icelandic sheep stock killed, result of fluorosis caused eruption of laki. effect spread beyond iceland. ash current eyjafjallajökull eruption contains one-third concentration typical in hekla eruptions, mean value of 104 mg of fluoride per kg of ash. large-scale release of sulphur dioxide troposphere poses potential health risk, people pre-existing breathing disorders.

while suspected major volcanic eruptions coincide cyclic solar minimum activity produce temporary global cooling or reduction in global temperature, noted coincidentally earth-facing side of sun blank no sun spots since start of second eruption phase on 14 until 29 april 2010. although current unusually long solar minimum came close earlier year, current cycle may witness unusual weak solar maximum. other research links volcanic eruptions including recent icelandic activity solar cycle. consider climate anomaly of year without summer 1816 have been caused combination of historic low in solar activity volcanic winter event; latter caused succession of major volcanic eruptions capped off mount tambora eruption of 1815, largest known eruption in on 1,600 years. 1 proposed volcanic winter happened c. 70,000 years ago following supereruption of lake toba on sumatra island in indonesia.

as of 15 april, eruption not large enough have effect on global temperatures of mount pinatubo , other major past volcanic eruptions. 1 previous related sequence of eruptions of volcano, beginning in 1821 recorded having lasted on 2 years, no single set of major eruptions known have lasted more several days . should eruption continue sufficient length of time @ current intensity, potential remains temporary global cooling effect. analogy, laki eruption has been linked extreme weather events severe hailstorms in great britain mississippi river freezing @ new orleans.

sulfate aerosols reach stratosphere catalyse production of chlorine monoxide (clo), destroys ozone (o3). in upper troposphere, same aerosols become nuclei cirrus clouds, increase earth s albedo, altering radiation balance. several eruptions during past century have caused decline in average temperature @ earth s surface of half degree celsius periods of 1 3 years.