On Friday, the volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland continued to erupt and spew ash. The eruption was clearly visible in space as it caused headaches here on Earth. The WHO is warning people to wear masks and try to stay indoors if possible all across Europe where the ash is still falling.

The ash has pieces of dust and glass like sand that is produced by exploding eruptions demolishing rocks or spraying lava in the air. Before falling from the sky the ash becomes solid. Breathing this in can irritate the throat, eyes, and nose. Smaller particles can cause breathing problems and go deep in the lungs. People who have asthma, for example, can be affected.

Ash has not yet fallen in the United Kingdom or on the Continent and may not at all. The factors weighing in are air current, wind, and weather. Depending on this factor serves as a guide of how long and how far it goes. By the time the ash falls it may fall over a larger area.

Scientists think though the ash that is falling from the volcano might be too scattered and limited to impact places outside Iceland. Instead the scientists think this could be a huge learning experience, learning about chemical reactions in the atmosphere or wind currents.

Iceland’s volcano expert stated that the ash covers 38 miles with significant ash on the eastern side. So the thinking concludes that the closer to the eruption a person is the more health problems. The residents farther away should not be a significant impact.

Image Credit: