Scientists are looking at what impact volcanic ash from the recent eruption in Iceland has had on marine biology.

A team of researchers will spend a month at sea, studying a region of water in the North-East Atlantic.

They say the information will provide "unique data" on how the dust affects the chemistry and biology of seawater.

The eruption under a glacier in south-west Iceland created a vast ash cloud that spread across northern Europe.

"It is a very interesting and unique situation that we find ourselves in," said Eric Achterberg from the UK's National Oceanography Centre, which is leading the study.

"It will provide an angle that we did not expect."[ BBC NEWS ]