A mass of polluted air from mainland Europe sat over southern Iceland earlier this week, sending pollution levels over the recommended maximum, according to MBL.is.
The presence of the dirty air mass was first tracked on Sunday. The Environment Agency registered elevated levels of atmospheric dust in Reykjavik and the nearby towns of Kopavogur and Hafnarfjordur.
The pollution levels seen were generally similar to those found near heavily trafficked roads in Reykjavik; but the levels were seen over much wider areas than usual. For example, high pollution was measured in Laugardalur Park, Heidmork recreational forest and the small coastal town of Stokkseyri.
Fresher winds swinging towards the north and rain today have all conspired to remove the worst of the pollution from the air.
The eruption of an Icelandic volcano that sent a huge plume of ash into the atmosphere and caused sweeping disruptions of air. Glacial rivers carry the sediment out to sea, where it takes on a new and important role in binding the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) with calcium (Ca) and converting it into calcite and other carbonate minerals, immensely important in the ocean ecosystems of the world. Thus glacial rivers reduce pollution on Earth. This effect is greatest in recently formed volcanic territory such as Iceland, and the binding effect increases with rising atmospheric temperature.
It is possible that we will not have to worry about rising atmospheric temperatures for too long.
http://www.examiner.com/seminole-county-environmental-news-in-orlando/triple-crown-of-global-cooling-could-pose-serious-threat-to-humanity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katla
Katla eruptions are usually between 4-6 on the VEI scale,
In a VEI 6 eruption Katla vould have to produce 10-100 km3 of solid volcanic material, for example Eyjafjallajökull produced 0,25 km3 of material.
Loud thunders can be heard from Eyjafjallajokull according to farmers in the area, but not as loud as just before the last eruption, there is a alot of heat in the top crater, and possibly just some steam explosions.
I belive global warming and cooling is just a part of a cycle, this has happened many times before and will happen again.
Last time Katla erupted in 1918 one person was killed, a woman who was hit by a lightning from the ash cloud, the greatest danger comes from changes to the weather systems.
Every 140 years there is a increase in volcaninc activity in iceland, and we are at the end of a calm period now.
This will also be interesting to watch.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/8194221/Northern-lights-in-Iceland-the-Aurora-Borealis-grows-stronger.html?image=1