The volcano on the island of La Palma causes the emergence of strange formations of clouds .. Did it have an impact on the weather and climate?

Weather of Arabia - Since the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma began erupting on September 19, 2021, most activity has occurred on Earth , as thick flows of lava that lasted for about two weeks burned farmland, roads and homes in the southwestern part of the country. The island of La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The effect of the La Palma volcano on the weather and climate

As for its impact on climate and weather, the atmospheric effects of the eruption were less dramatic until the Institute of Volcanoes of the Canary Islands (INVOLCAN) reported an increase in explosive activity that began on October 2, as the satellite image (below) of a thick plume of ash flowing southward. On October 4, 2021.

According to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, the plume reached an altitude of 3 km on October 4, posing a risk to aircraft in the area.

The volcanic eruption, however, was not active enough to inject large amounts of ash and gases into the stratosphere , where they can have strong and lasting effects on weather and climate. However, it was powerful enough to produce a growing plume of emissions that helped shape the remarkable pattern. In the clouds shown in the image (below), taken from NASA's Aqua satellite on October 1, 2021.

The strange cloud was the product of an ascending plume of ash and superheated gases known as an eruption column. The plume laden with water vapor and other gases quickly rose upward until it collided with a layer of warmer, drier air about 5.3 km high, according to INVOLCAN.

The extraordinarily warm air acts as a cover that prevents the volcanic column from rising to a higher level, and the cloud spreads horizontally and superficially. convection and spread out horizontally, in a process similar to the way a stone falling into a pond creates ripples that spread outward.

The effect of the volcano on the island's airport

It is noteworthy that an accumulation of ash and dust from the eruption of the volcano was recorded today, Thursday (October 7) on the runway of the airport on the island of La Palma, forcing the authorities in La Palma, Spain, to close the island's airport today.

However, other airports in the Canary Islands archipelago off North Africa remained open, and a spokesperson for Air Transport Corporation (AENA) said the ash cloud was unlikely to pose any greater risks to air travel at the moment, but protocols were being implemented to shut down. Airport because safety is the priority.

The airport closed on September 25 but reopened the next day after workers removed volcanic ash from the runway.