Wow. Forty years old. Shall we consider the volcano in Iceland the Earth's version of black balloons? Actually, no.

The volcano is spewing less carbon into the atmosphere than all of the airplanes it grounded.

Carbon deficit: Feeling guilty about the carbon-belching SUV you want to buy to annoy the pretentious Greenie next door? Don't. Britain's Environmental Transportation Association estimated that the flight clampdown had eliminated some 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere between April 15 and April 19 alone. But hasn't the Icelandic volcano emitted even more? Not so. It is spewing a mere 15,000 tonnes a day, according to one estimate. So go for it – the carbon gap is begging to be filled and your new Ford Explorer or Jeep Cherokee is just the machine to do it.

Read more about why Eric Reguly says we should all love that volcano of aviation misery in The Globe and Mail, here.