冰岛火山毒气三倍于欧洲所有工厂排放量

A huge volcanic1 eruption2 in Iceland emitted on average three times as much of a toxic3 gas as all European industry combined, a study has revealed. Discharge of lava4 from the eruption at Bárearbunga volcano released a huge mass - up to 120,000 tonnes per day - of sulphur dioxide gas, which can cause acid rain and respiratory problems.

The eruption last year was the biggest in Iceland for more than 200 years. It released a river of lava across northern Iceland, and lasted for six months.

Researchers hope that their study will aid understanding of how such eruptions5 can affect air quality in the UK.

A team of European scientists, including from the Universities of Leeds and Edinburgh and the Met Office, used data from satellite sensors6 to map sulphur dioxide pollution from the eruption. These were reproduced by computer simulations of the spreading gas cloud.

As well as being given off by volcanoes, sulphur dioxide is also produced by burning fossil fuels and industrial processes such as smelting7. Man-made sulphur dioxide production has been falling since 1990, and was recorded at 12,000 tonnes per day in 2010.

The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, was supported by The Natural Environment Research Council and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, amongst others.

Dr John Stevenson, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, who took part in the study, said: "This eruption produced lava instead of ash, and so it didn't impact on flights - but it did affect air quality. These results help scientists predict where pollution from future eruptions will spread."

1 volcanic

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。

Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 eruption

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。

The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

3 toxic

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。

There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 lava

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。

His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

5 eruptions

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》

Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

6 sensors

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》

Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

7 smelting

n.熔炼v.熔炼，提炼（矿石）( smelt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

a method of smelting iron 一种炼铁方法

Fire provided a means of smelting ores. 火提供了熔炼矿石的手段。 来自辞典例句