Mount Etna eruption sends sulfur plume across Mediterranean to North Africa

Satellite data from the Copernicus Sentinel‑5P mission showed that the sulfur dioxide plume released during Mount Etna’s July 7 eruption spread eastward across the Mediterranean, reaching the airspace of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt. The image, posted on X, maps the total column of SO₂ and is used to track volcanic activity, assess air‑quality impacts and monitor aviation safety.

Tunisian climate expert Ameur Bahbah explained that the plume was detected at an altitude of 2‑4 km, with concentrations remaining moderate and posing no immediate health risk to ground‑level populations. He noted that the red‑coloured satellite track indicated higher concentrations, which were expected to fade as the gas dispersed over the following days.