Iceland's volcanic impact on our environment has been little to be concerned about. Worldwide, the impact of all volcanic and earthquake activity is a concern and dwarfs that emitted by mankind.
From various sources:
Volcanic eruptions can be extremely damaging to the environment, particularly because of a number of toxic gases possibly present in pyroclastic material. It typically consists mainly of water vapor, but it also contains carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide gas. Other gases typically found in volcanic ashes are hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide, and volatile metal chloride. Carbon dioxide emitted from volcanoes adds to the natural greenhouse effect. Sulphur dioxides cause environmental problems, because they are converted to sulphuric acid in the stratosphere; the main cause of acid rain. Furthermore, sulphate aerosols are formed, which reflect solar radiation and absorb heat, thereby cooling the earth. Sulphate aerosols also take part in chemical reactions, forming ozone destructive material. An example of a volcanic eruption that caused substantial environmental damage is the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.
Iceland?s volcanic activity might ? in rational minds ? serve to draw attention to the natural variables (volcanoes, ocean currents, solar activity, clouds, water vapor, etc. ) that dwarf the human impact on climate.
Australian scientist Ian Plimer ? geologist and volcano expert, professor of geology at the University of Adelaide, and professor emeritus of earth sciences at the University of Melbourne, notes that man?s contribution of CO2, SO2, and other greenhouse gases is relatively minor, when compared to the contributions from natural sources.
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