WorldNew images released by NASA show a dangerous sulfur plume moving across northern Iraq in the wake of the battle to retake Mosul. NASA said its ozone monitoring instruments detected a large sulfur dioxide plume dispersing across northern and central Iraq as early as last week. Initially, that sulfur dioxide was in lower parts of the atmosphere, but the plume has now reached higher into the atmosphere due to shifting winds. ”More recently, sulfur dioxide has been lofted to higher altitudes where it may undergo long-range transport.”Growing concentrations of sulfur dioxide can impair breathing and even be life threatening. Civilians south of Mosul who were interviewed by al-Mawsleya TV wore masks and scarves to cover their faces from the toxic gas.

Source: Sunday Times October 28, 2016 06:50 UTC