Icelandic volcanic eruption unlikely to have global effects: Scientist

COLORADO - An American scientist has said that the plume created by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, which has caused sweeping disruptions of air traffic across Europe, will have no global effects and will likely dissipate in the next several days.

According to Professor Brian Toon, Chairman of University of Colorado’s Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, the plume will not have any global effects, as it is below the stratosphere.

He said the amount of sulfur dioxide spewed by the volcano so far poses no threat to world climate as determined by an instrument aboard NASA’s Aura satellite.

Professor Toon stressed that the destination and duration of the volcanic plume depends primarily on weather conditions like rain and winds.

He added that it should get washed away by rain, as it continues to drift east, and likely will have no effect on the United States.

However, he noted than an apparently larger eruption of an Icelandic volcano in 1783 caused some climate issues in Europe by creating smog-like conditions in London that partially blocked out the sun and persisted through the summer months. (ANI)