Volcano gas emissions less than from affected planes

Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano could be pumping between 150,000 and 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a day into the atmosphere, but it may still be cutting back on overall greenhouse gases by grounding CO2 emitting planes.

European flights, many of which were halted by the eruption, emit around 440,000 tonnes of CO2 a day, says the European Environment Agency.

Experts say it is premature to say whether greenhouse gases will fall overall thanks to the eruption.

Specialists said many stranded passengers would travel on deferred flights or by more efficient, but still carbon-emitting, transport such as cars, buses and ferries.

Volcanologists said the volcano was contributing just a tiny amount - less than a third of one percentage point - of global emissions of greenhouse gases, insignificant when compared with man-made emissions.

Climate experts say the eruption is unlikely to have a significant cooling effect on climate compared with larger eruptions because the ash cloud has not reached the high atmosphere and it contains relatively little sulphur, which can form a mist of sulphuric acid and block some of the radiation from the sun.