The volcanic eruption released kilograms of ash. Will a cloud of pollution reach Poland?

This is the seventh eruption of the Reykjanes volcanic system, located in the southwestern part of Iceland, starting in December 2023. Although experts estimate that the explosion was weaker than the previous one, recorded in August, a lot of pyroclastic material, such as ash and volcanic ash, is released into the atmosphere. Can the sediment cloud reach Poland?

A unique fissure eruption. Residents of the city of Grindavik were evacuated

IMWM reports that the eruption was preceded by a series of earthquakes. “For safety reasons, residents of the city of Grindavik, as well as tourists staying in the area, were evacuated,” we read in the published statement. However, the flowing lava is not expected to head towards the city. There is also no direct threat to the infrastructure. Grindavik, Blue Lagoon and Svartsengi power plants were also evacuated.

This time the eruption of the volcanic system on the Reykjanes Peninsula was quite unusual. It was a fissure explosion, i.e. instead of forming a cone with a crater, lava came out of a crack in the ground. This eruption fissure is about 3 kilometers long, but there is no indication that it will get any larger.

The Icelandic Meteorological Service emphasized that what distinguishes the latest eruption from previous ones is that seismic activity has not increased gradually in recent weeks.

Volcanic eruption a threat to Poland?

If the eruption was accompanied by the supply of particulate matter into the atmosphere, would the ash cloud reach Poland? Experts, citing the latest simulations, say yes. “A cloud of air pollution could reach Poland within two days,” informs IMWM, adding that a mixture of gases and dust would flow over Poland from the west.