34 results
Search Results
2. Tiltmeter Data Revealing Transient Magma Viscosity Changes During Eruptions.
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Gomez-Ortiz, David, Arnoso, Jose, Martín-Velázquez, Silvia, Martín-Crespo, Tomás, Montesinos, Fuensanta González, Vélez, Emilio, and Benavent, Maite
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RHEOLOGY ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,MAGMAS ,PRESSURE control ,MOHOROVICIC discontinuity - Abstract
Volcanic processes related to episodes of inflation, dike propagation, effusive activity, etc., can be detected by continuous surface tilt measurements. The interpretation of these measurements helps comprehend medium-to-short-term precursors of volcanic eruptions or establishes early warning alerts. Additionally, studying the transport and evolution of magmas from the Moho to the crust is key to understanding the eruptive process, but to date, they have not been traced from surface tilts. In this work, we witnessed two relevant and unique dynamic eruptive processes, as revealed by tilt signals, both in the 2021 La Palma eruption and in the 2011–2012 El Hierro eruption (Canary Islands). On the one hand, magma injection from the reservoir at depth is controlled by a pressure gradient. On the other hand, changes in magma viscosity, resulting from pressure variations, have been revealed from cyclic tilt signals. In the case of these signals, matching with a physical model helped us decipher them and establish the duration of this magmatic process, which varied depending on the size and rheological properties of the respective magma plumbing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2025
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3. Volcanomagnetic signals related to the 2021 Tajogaite volcanic eruption in the Cumbre Vieja rift (La Palma, Canary Islands).
- Author
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Blanco-Montenegro, Isabel, Arnoso, José, Sánchez, Nieves, Montesinos, Fuensanta G., Gómez-Ortiz, David, Nicolosi, Iacopo, Vélez, Emilio, and Benavent, Maite
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TIME series analysis , *GEOMAGNETISM , *VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. , *RIFTS (Geology) , *ROCK deformation , *VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
After almost 50 years of quiescence, the Cumbre Vieja rift in La Palma underwent a reactivation process that culminated in the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano from September 19 to December 13, 2021. In July 2021, a magnetic station (CFU) was deployed in the western flank of the Cumbre Vieja rift, 2 km away from the site where the eruptive vents would open two months later. In September 2021, a second magnetic station (SAN) was installed near the southern end of the rift. In this paper we study two months of geomagnetic data at CFU before the eruption and three months of geomagnetic data at SAN during the eruption. The analysis of these time series revealed a magnetic signal at the CFU station with an amplitude of 10 nT and a duration of 10 days by mid-August, one month before the eruption onset. We studied possible correlations with other physical parameters (ground deformation, long-period and very-long-period seismic activity) and concluded that this signal could be related to changes in the magnetization of rocks beneath the volcanic edifice caused by magma intrusion and volcanic/hydrothermal fluids circulation preceding the eruption. At the SAN magnetic station, the time series suggests that a slight decrease in the geomagnetic field could reflect the end of the eruptive process. • Three magnetic stations were deployed at La Palma in 2021. • Geomagnetic field time series acquired before/during the 2021 eruption were analyzed. • We identified a volcanomagnetic signal one month before the eruption onset. • This signal had an amplitude of 10 nT and a duration of ∼10 days. • It correlates with ground deformation and long-period seismic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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4. Dynamic subsurface changes on El Hierro and La Palma during volcanic unrest revealed by temporal variations in seismic anisotropy patterns.
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Schlaphorst, David, Silveira, Graça, Ramalho, Ricardo S., González, Pablo J., Antón, Resurrección, Scarfì, Luciano, and Scudero, Salvatore
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SEISMIC anisotropy ,SHEAR waves ,GEOLOGIC hot spots ,ARCHIPELAGOES ,VOLCANISM ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,CANARIES ,MAGMAS - Abstract
Active hotspot volcanism is the surface expression of ongoing dynamic subsurface changes, such as the generation, transport, and stalling of magmas within the upper mantle and crust. Magmatic influx and migration affects local stress patterns in the crust and lithospheric mantle, which influences seismic anisotropy. A better understanding of those patterns helps improve robustness of models forecasting the likelihood of an eruption and prolonged seismicity, with detailed studies being required to observe the significant variations that can occur on small spatial and temporal scales. Here, we investigate seismic anisotropy before, during and after volcanic eruptions. We use local seismicity around El Hierro and La Palma, the two westernmost islands in the Canaries and sites of the most recent volcanic eruptions in the archipelago. We obtained 215 results in El Hierro during and after the 2011/2012 eruption with five three-component broadband seismic stations and 908 results around the 2021 eruption in La Palma with two three-component broadband stations. On La Palma, the majority of seismicity and splitting results are recorded during the eruption and simultaneous deflation of the island. Seismicity locations do not change significantly and fast shear wave polarisation direction is mostly constant, but some variation can be attributed to changes in the magmatic plumbing system. On El Hierro, the general radial pattern reflects stresses induced by the overall uplift of the island during multiple magma intrusion events. Temporal subsets reveal significant variations in location and depth of the events, as well as significant variations in fast polarisation direction caused by ongoing dynamic changes of under- and overpressurisation. An increase of results starting in 2018 hints towards renewed subsurface activity within deeper parts of the plumbing system, affecting the rate of overall seismicity but not any vertical movement of the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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5. Volcanic Unrest After the 2021 Eruption of La Palma.
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Fernández, José, Escayo, Joaquin, Prieto, Juan F., Tiampo, Kristy F., Camacho, Antonio G., and Ancochea, Eumenio
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VOLCANIC eruptions ,SYNTHETIC aperture radar ,OCEANIC crust - Abstract
La Palma, Canary Islands, had its largest historical eruption in 2021. From January 2022 to May 2023 there were >2,100 seismic events, primarily at depths ≤20 km, prompting us to update the deformation and modeling study, using interferometric synthetic aperture radar observations and a last generation interpretation tool. We detect the evolution of the remaining magmatic body in the SW portion of the island, with arrival of new magma moving into the oceanic crust out to sea, and a pressurized zone in the central‐eastern area, at regions of structural weakness. The current source characteristics have some similarities to the early stage dynamics prior to the 2021 eruption. Operational and multidisciplinary studies must continue to monitor either their stabilization or growth and destabilization. The ability to identify magma ascent using only deformation data over short time periods allows us to characterize unrest patterns and provide new insights into volcanic processes. Plain Language Summary: Following the 2021 eruption at La Palma, Canary Islands, seismic activity has persisted that may be a precursor to future volcanic activity. Here we perform an updated deformation and modeling study that characterizes the evolution of the remaining magma in the SW area of the island. A fresh injection of magma occurs in the oceanic crust off the coast, along with a pressurized region in the central‐eastern area of the island where crustal weakness exists close to recent volcanic eruptions. The 2022–2023.4 process has similar characteristics to the evolution prior to the 2021 eruption. Ongoing studies should focus on monitoring the increase or decrease in this activity. Improved characterization of changing volcanic activity over short time periods can provide new insights into ongoing volcanic processes. Key Points: We determine the current unrest is similar to that prior to the 2021 eruption warranting attention by hazard response decision makersWe detect a shallow magmatic intrusion in the SW of the island migrating W into the submarine crust of the islandWe also detect a shallow pressurized zone located in the central eastern region of the island [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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6. Volcanic soil gas 4He/CO2 ratio: a useful geochemical tool for real-time eruption forecasting.
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Pérez, Nemesio M., Padrón, Eleazar, Melián, Gladys, Hernández, Pedro A., Padilla, German, Barrancos, José, Rodríguez, Fátima, D'Auria, Luca, and Calvo, David
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SOIL air ,VOLCANIC gases ,VOLCANIC soils ,VOLCANIC activity prediction ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,FORECASTING - Abstract
At many dormant volcanoes, magmatic gases are not channeled through preferential degassing routes as fumaroles and only percolate through the flanks of the volcano in a diffuse way. This type of volcanic gas emission provides valuable information, even though the soil matrix contains an important atmospheric component. This study aimed to demonstrate that chemical ratios such as He/CO
2 in soil gases provide excellent information on the evolution of volcanic unrest episodes and help forecast the volcanic eruption onset. Before and during the occurrence of the October 2011–March 2012 submarine of El Hierro, Canary Islands, more than 8500 soil He analyses and diffuse CO2 emission measurements were performed. The results show that the soil He/CO2 emission ratio began increasing drastically one month before eruption onset, reaching the maximum value 10 days before. During the eruptive period, this ratio also showed a maximum value several days before the period with the highest magma emission rate. The He/CO2 ratio was also helpful in forecasting the eruption onset. We demonstrate that this tool can be applied in real-time during volcanic emergencies. Our results also encourage a reevaluation of the global He emission from the subaerial volcanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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7. Fluorite and Gibbsite Solubility Controls the Vertical Transport of Fluoride and Aluminum during Rainwater Percolation through Ashfall Deposits in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain).
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Sánchez-España, Javier, Castillo, Ana M. Nieto, Mata, M. Pilar, Martínez-Martínez, Javier, and Mediato, Jose F.
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GIBBSITE ,ANDOSOLS ,FLUORITE ,ALUMINUM ,FLUORIDES ,RAINWATER ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,TOXICOLOGY of aluminum - Abstract
This study addresses the in situ mobility of fluoride and aluminum in two different ashfall deposits accumulated during the 2021 eruption of the Tajogaite volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain), which were exposed to contrasting conditions of ambient humidity and precipitation. We selected one site to the east of the volcanic emission center, located near the top of Cumbre Vieja Ridge and exposed to continuous humidity and rain, and another site to the west of the volcano situated in a lowland and characterized by much drier conditions. The mobility of fluoride and aluminum is markedly different at both sites, with the first sequence suggesting a downwards migration of Al and F, and the second sequence showing no sign of mobility. The migration of aluminum and fluorine results from the dissolution of different fluoride salts (mostly AlF
3 and CaF2 , as suggested by scanning electron microscopy) followed by vertical transport as ionic complexes (AlF3 , AlF2 + , AlF4 − ) during the percolation of rainwater through the ashfall deposits. Geochemical calculations suggest that the mobility of fluorine at neutral to alkaline conditions (pH 7.0–9.0) is likely limited by the solubility of fluorite (CaF2 ), whereas at slightly acidic conditions (pH < 6.5), the aqueous concentration of aluminum seems to be controlled by the solubility of gibbsite (Al(OH)3 ). This study demonstrates that aluminum and fluoride can be transported from volcanic ash to the underlying soil or groundwater, which is an environmental concern that should be followed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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8. Explosive felsic volcanism on El Hierro (Canary Islands).
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Becerril, Laura, Pedrazzi, Dario, Martí, Joan, Meletlidis, Stavros, and Galindo, Inés
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VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. ,FELSIC rocks ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,SEDIMENTATION & deposition research - Abstract
The Canary Islands consist of seven basaltic shield volcanoes whose submerged portion is much more voluminous than the subaerial part of each island. Like so many other volcanic oceanic islands, the indicative deposits of explosive felsic volcanism are not a common feature on the Canary archipelago. Hitherto, they have only been documented from the central islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, which are the largest volcanic complexes of the islands. On the other Canary Islands, the presence of felsic rocks is mostly restricted to intrusions and a few lava flows, generally within the succession in the oldest parts of individual islands. In this paper, we present a detailed stratigraphic, lithological and sedimentological study of a significant felsic pumice deposit on the island of El Hierro, referred here as the Malpaso Member, which represents the only explosive episode of felsic volcanism found on the Canary Islands (outside of Gran Canaria and Tenerife). The products of the eruption indicate a single eruptive event and cover an area of about 15 km. This work provides a detailed stratigraphic and chronological framework for El Hierro, and four subunits are identified within the member on the basis of lithological and granulometric characteristics. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of an explosive eruption in a setting where the activity is typified by effusive basaltic events. Given the style and the spatial distribution of the Malpaso eruption and its products, a future event with similar characteristics could have a serious impact on the population, infrastructure and economy of the island of El Hierro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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9. Volcanic hazard assessment for the Canary Islands (Spain) using extreme value theory.
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Sobradelo, R., Martí, J., Mendoza-Rosas, A. T., Gómez, G., Macedonio, G., and Jaquet, O.
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VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,EXTREME value theory ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,PROBABILITY theory ,STATISTICS ,GEOPHYSICAL observations - Abstract
The Canary Islands are an active volcanic region densely populated and visited by several millions of tourists every year. Nearly twenty eruptions have been reported through written chronicles in the last 600 yr, suggesting that the probability of a new eruption in the near future is far from zero. This shows the importance of assessing and monitoring the volcanic hazard of the region in order to reduce and manage its potential volcanic risk, and ultimately contribute to the design of appropriate preparedness plans. Hence, the probabilistic analysis of the volcanic eruption time series for the Canary Islands is an essential step for the assessment of volcanic hazard and risk in the area. Such a series describes complex processes involving different types of eruptions over different time scales. Here we propose a statistical method for calculating the probabilities of future eruptions which is most appropriate given the nature of the documented historical eruptive data. We first characterize the eruptions by their magnitudes, and then carry out a preliminary analysis of the data to establish the requirements for the statistical method. Past studies in eruptive time series used conventional statistics and treated the series as an homogeneous process. In this paper, we will use a method that accounts for the time-dependence of the series and includes rare or extreme events, in the form of few data of large eruptions, since these data require special methods of analysis. Hence, we will use a statistical method from extreme value theory. In particular, we will apply a non-homogeneous Poisson process to the historical eruptive data of the Canary Islands to estimate the probability of having at least one volcanic event of a magnitude greater than one in the upcoming years. This is done in three steps: First, we analyze the historical eruptive series to assess independence and homogeneity of the process. Second, we perform a Weibull analysis of the distribution of repose time between successive eruptions. Third, we analyze the non-homogeneous Poisson process with a generalized Pareto distribution as the intensity function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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10. Estimating building exposure and impact to volcanic hazards in Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife (Canary Islands)
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Marti, J., Spence, R., Calogero, E., Ordoñez, A., Felpeto, A., and Baxter, P.
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EFFECT of earthquakes on buildings , *VOLCANIC eruptions , *VOLCANIC hazard analysis , *VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. - Abstract
Abstract: Principal and subsidiary building structure characteristics and their distribution have been inventoried in Icod, Tenerife (Canary Islands) and used to evaluate the vulnerability of individual buildings to three volcanic hazards: tephra fallout, volcanogenic earthquakes and pyroclastic flows. The procedures described in this paper represent a methodological framework for a comprehensive survey of all the buildings at risk in the area around the Teide volcano in Tenerife. Such a methodology would need to be implemented for the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment for the populations under threat of explosive eruptions in this area. The information presented in the paper is a sample of the necessary data required for the impact estimation and risk assessment exercises that would need to be carried out by emergency managers, local authorities and those responsible for recovery and repair in the event of a volcanic eruption. The data shows there are micro variations in building stock characteristics that would influence the likely impact of an eruption in the area. As an example of the use of this methodology for vulnerability assessment, we have applied a deterministic simulation model of a volcanic eruption from Teide volcano and its associated ash fallout which, when combined with the vulnerability data collected, allows us to obtain the vulnerability map of the studied area. This map is obtained by performing spatial analysis with a Geographical Information System (GIS). This vulnerability analysis is included in the framework of an automatic information system specifically developed for hazard assessment and risk management on Tenerife, but which can be also applied to other volcanic areas. The work presented is part of the EU-funded EXPLORIS project (Explosive Eruption Risk and Decision Support for EU Populations Threatened by Volcanoes, EVR1-2001-00047). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2008
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11. Tropospheric sulfate from Cumbre Vieja volcano at Las Palmas, transported towards Cabo Verde – lidar measurements of aerosol extinction, backscatter and depolarization at 355, 532 and 1064 nm.
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Gebauer, Henriette, Floutsi, Athena Augusta, Haarig, Moritz, Radenz, Martin, Engelmann, Ronny, Althausen, Dietrich, Skupin, Annett, Ansmann, Albert, Zenk, Cordula, and Baars, Holger
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TROPOSPHERIC aerosols ,ATMOSPHERIC boundary layer ,BACKSCATTERING ,LIDAR ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,SULFATE aerosols ,VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. ,VOLCANIC plumes - Abstract
From 19 September to 13 December 2021, volcanic eruptions took place at the Cumbre Vieja ridge, Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Thereby, fine ash and volatiles, like sulfur dioxide (SO
2 ), were emitted and transported over hundreds to thousands of kilometers away from the island. Continuous lidar observations with the multiwavelength-Raman-polarization lidar PollyXT were performed at the Ocean Science Center at Mindelo, Cabo Verde, in the framework of the Joint Aeolus-Tropical Atlantic Campaign (JATAC) 2021/2022 enabling the characterization of the atmospheric state above Mindelo during the eruption period. A special feature of the system operated at Mindelo is, that measurements of the particle extinction coefficient, the particle extinction-to-backscatter ratio (lidar ratio) and the particle linear depolarization ratio are available at all three wavelengths (355, 532 and 1064 nm). The typical aerosol conditions over Mindelo are a clean marine planetary boundary layer (PBL) up to approx. 1 km and above a Saharan dust layer (SAL, up to 6 km) during northern hemispheric summer and fall. A particle extinction coefficient smaller than 200 Mm−1 , a lidar ratio smaller than 30 sr and a particle linear depolarization ratio close to 0 % have been typically observed within the planetary boundary layer, while a lidar ratio between 40 and 60 sr and a linear depolarization ratio between 20 and 30 % are characteristic for the SAL above. In contrast, during the time of the volcanic eruptions, a strongly polluted PBL was observed on specific days beginning on the 23 September 2021, whereby the particle extinction coefficient and the lidar ratio increased up to 800 Mm−1 and 80 sr (at 355 nm), respectively. On 24 September, the aerosol optical depth, determined by an AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) sun photometer, was as high as 0.9 and 1.1 (daily averages at 500 and 340 nm). HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) trajectories indicate air mass transport from Canary Islands to Mindelo at heights below 2 km. The observed pollution in the PBL over Mindelo is attributed to sulfate aerosol from the volcanic eruption at Las Palmas as the particle linear depolarization ratio was low (≤ 3 %) and, thus, does not indicate non-spherical particles, such as Saharan dust or volcanic ash. We thus conclude that sulfate aerosol formed from gaseous precursors during the transport (2–3 days for a distance of 1500 km) from Las Palmas towards Cabo Verde. No indications of volcanic ash over Mindelo were found in the SAL. This finding is supported by the HYSPLIT trajectories, which show that air masses in higher altitudes originate from the African continent and not from the Canary Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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12. Geothermal and structural features of La Palma island (Canary Islands) imaged by ambient noise tomography.
- Author
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Cabrera-Pérez, Iván, Soubestre, Jean, D'Auria, Luca, Barrancos, José, Martín-Lorenzo, Alba, van Dorth, David Martínez, Padilla, Germán D., Przeor, Monika, and Pérez, Nemesio M.
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LANDSLIDES ,SEISMIC wave velocity ,ISLANDS ,GEOTHERMAL resources ,TOMOGRAPHY ,HYDROTHERMAL alteration ,EARTHQUAKES ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
La Palma island is located in the NW of the Canary Islands and is one of the most volcanically active of the archipelago, therefore the existence of geothermal resources on the island is highly probable. The main objective of this work is to detect velocity anomalies potentially related to active geothermal reservoirs on La Palma island, by achieving a high-resolution seismic velocity model of the first few kilometres of the crust using Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT). The obtained ANT model is merged with a recent local earthquake tomography model. Our findings reveal two high-velocity zones in the island's northern and southern parts, that could be related to a plutonic intrusion and old oceanic crust materials. Conversely, four low-velocity zones are imaged in the southern part of the island. Two of them can be related to hydrothermal alteration zones located beneath the Cumbre Vieja volcanic complex. This hypothesis is reinforced by comparing the S-wave velocity model with the seismicity recorded during the pre-eruptive phase of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, which revealed an aseismic volume coinciding with these low-velocity zones. Another low-velocity zone is observed in the southern part of the island, which we interpret as highly fractured rocks which could favour the ascent of hot fluids. A last low-velocity zone is observed in the central part of the island and associated with loose deposits generated by the Aridane valley mega landslide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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13. The Explosive Activity of the 2021 Tajogaite Eruption (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain).
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Taddeucci, J., Scarlato, P., Andronico, D., Ricci, T., Civico, R., Del Bello, E., Spina, L., D'Auria, L., Asensio‐Ramos, M., Calvo, D., Padrón, E., Hernández, P. A., and Pérez, N. M.
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EXPLOSIVE volcanic eruptions ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,CAMCORDERS ,MAGMAS ,ISLANDS ,VOLCANOES - Abstract
The explosive activity of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption eludes pigeonholing into well‐defined eruption styles, with a variety of pyroclast ejection modes occurring both alternately and simultaneously at multiple vents. Visually, we defined four endmembers of explosive activity, referred to as fountaining, spattering, ash‐poor jets and ash‐rich jets. To capture the physical parameters of these activities, we deployed a camera array including one high‐speed camera and three high‐definition cameras in two field campaigns. Transitions between and fluctuations within activity occurred at the time scale of minutes to hours, likely driven by the same shallow conduit and vent processes controlling Strombolian activity at other volcanoes, but at higher gas and magma fluxes. From a physical standpoint, mean pyroclast rise velocity ranged 5–50 m/s, maximum ejection velocity 10–220 m/s, and sub‐second mass flux of lapilli to bomb‐sized pyroclasts at the vent 0.2–200 × 103 kg/s. The largest mass flux occurred during fountaining, which contributed by far more than other activities to cone building. All explosive activity exhibited well‐defined pyroclast ejection pulses, and we found a positive correlation between the occurrence rate of ejection pulses and maximum pyroclast ejection velocity. Despite orders of magnitude variations, physical parameters shift gradually with no boundary from one activity endmember to another. As such, attributing this explosive activity specifically to any currently defined style variations is arbitrary and potentially misleading. The highly variable explosive activity of the Tajogaite eruption recalls previous definitions of violent Strombolian eruptions, an eruption style whose pyroclast ejection dynamics, however, were so far largely undefined. Plain Language Summary: The 2021 Tajogaite volcanic eruption offered a rare opportunity to study in detail the physical properties and the controlling factors of explosive activity driven by basaltic magmas. The activity lasted almost uninterrupted for almost 3 months and had visually different manifestations occurring simultaneously and alternating at different volcanic vents. To study the explosive activity, we used one high‐speed camera, taking short, slow motion videos, and three commercial grade high‐definition camcorders recording for many hours. We found that the activity changed in features and intensity at the time scale of minutes to hours, largely controlled by changes in the size and debris cover of the vent, magma viscosity, and magma flux and gas content. The ejection velocity of large volcanic particles ranged 5–220 m/s, with mean values around 10–50 m/s. The mass flux of particles erupted reached peaks of 200 metric tons per second. Particle ejection was never steady but always proceeded in pulses, which were more frequent if the ejection velocity was higher. Our measurements show that the current classification schemes for explosive eruptions of basaltic magmas do not adequately describe the activity of the Tajogaite eruption, which represents a type of eruption that was not yet measured in detail. Key Points: High‐definition and high‐speed imaging record the velocity, size, and mass flux of pyroclastsActivity shifted in location, nature and vigor at the time scale of hours and progressed in ejection pulses at the time scale of secondsPhysical parameters of explosive activity vary gradually between apparently different activity styles, without any clear boundary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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14. Seismic swarms and earthquake activity b-value related to the September 19, 2021, La Palma volcano eruption in Cumbre Vieja, Canary Islands (Spain).
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Mezcua, Julio and Rueda, Juan
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VOLCANIC eruptions ,EARTHQUAKE swarms ,ISLANDS ,MAGMAS - Abstract
The recent eruption of the Cumbre Vieja Volcanic Ridge in La Palma started on September 19, 2021, after a series of seismic swarms and lasted 85 days. Seismic swarms showed a large variability but could be grouped in two categories: long-term swarms located at subcrustal depth, showing b-values close to 2.2 and low rates (from 4.1 to 56 events/hour) and short-term swarms located at very shallow depths, showing moderate b-values [0.9, 1.6] and high rates (from 58 to 460 events/hour). Magma ascent velocity within the 0–10 km depth range varied between 0.03 and 0.21 km/h. Spatial and temporal characterization of the b-values for the entire magmatic process during the selected study period also indicated three distinct dynamics during a preparation phase starting from at least October 2017–August 2021, the eruptive phase from September 2021–December 2021 and a post-eruption process from the end of the eruption in December 2021–May 2022. These stages with clearly different values reflect two scenarios: one corresponding to the time before the eruption with magma ascending from a 39-km depth to the surface, and a second stage corresponding to the eruption itself which includes two seismicity concentrations within the 30–40 km depth interval and a shallow concentration from 0–20 km, corresponding to the crustal reservoir and movement towards the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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15. Communicating the volcanic eruption in La Palma from Spanish public institutions: communication strategies on Twitter.
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Alcántara, Carmen Sedeño, García, Lorena Vegas, and Paniagua Rojano, Francisco Javier
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PUBLIC communication ,CRISIS communication ,HOME offices ,CONTENT analysis ,COMMUNICATION strategies ,PUBLIC relations ,PUBLIC institutions ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
Copyright of Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodistico is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2023
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16. Monitoring the 2021 Cumbre Vieja Volcanic Eruption Using Satellite Multisensor Data Fusion.
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Weisz, Elisabeth and Paul Menzel, W.
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MULTISENSOR data fusion ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,VOLCANIC plumes ,AIR quality monitoring ,GEOSTATIONARY satellites ,TRACE gases ,INFRARED imaging ,AIRCRAFT accident investigation ,AIRCRAFT accidents - Abstract
Multisensor satellite data fusion merges measurements or products from imaging and sounding instruments with different spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution to obtain more comprehensive information about key atmospheric variables and processes. Here, data from low Earth and geostationary orbits, such as the Joint Polar Satellite Systems and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites platforms, respectively, are integrated using spatial‐temporal fusion to enhance the detection of trace gas emissions from volcanoes. Not only does this yield trace gas information with improved spatial detail but, more importantly, the fusion product is also made available at significantly increased temporal resolution to help monitor the variable dispersion of trace gas emissions. The emission and dispersion of volcanic sulfur dioxide and ash plumes from the Cumbre Vieja volcano (Canary Islands, Spain) eruptions in October 2021 are studied through the synergistic exploitation of measurements and products from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, the Cross‐track Infrared Sounder, the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument, and the Advanced Baseline Imager. Fusion results show increased spatial and temporal detail and describe evolution and directionality of the volcanic ash plumes; the potential benefits range from improved air quality monitoring to better guidance from aircraft safety systems. Plain Language Summary: Improved delineation of volcanic emissions is shown via fusion of the high spectral resolution sounder Cross‐track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) or TROPOspheric Monitoring instrument (TROPOMI), with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite or Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) data. Whereas ABI is onboard geostationary satellite platforms, which offer fast temporal coverage, the other instruments are on low‐Earth orbit platforms providing twice daily global coverage instead. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ash from the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruptions on La Palma in the Canary Islands are tracked on two separate days in October 2021. While TROPOMI, since it measures in the visible and ultraviolet spectral ranges, is limited to daytime viewing, CrIS infrared measurements offer night and day coverage of SO2. Fusion with ABI enables the extension to time sequences of the changes in the emissions and the resulting plumes. This fusion demonstration foreshadows capabilities of planned future geostationary sensors. Key Points: Satellite Infrared Remote Sensing provides radiance data and imagery of the Earth's atmosphere during daytime and nighttimeMultisensor and multiplatform data fusion is applied to enhance spatial and temporal delineation of volcanic sulfur dioxide plumesFusing geostationary with polar‐orbiting satellite data assists monitoring volcanic eruptions to benefit aviation safety [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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17. Geology of El Hierro Southern Rift, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Abis, Christopher, Dajma, Francesca, Di Capua, Andrea, Martì Molist, Joan, Meletlidis, Stavros, Norini, Gianluca, Principe, Claudia, and Groppelli, Gianluca
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VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,GEOLOGICAL surveys ,GEOLOGICAL maps ,LAVA flows ,GEOLOGICAL mapping ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,GEOLOGY - Abstract
The geological survey has been carried out in El Hierro with the aim to produce a new Geological Map at 1:12,500 scale for the Southern Rift. Almost 70 km² have been mapped providing a detailed stratigraphic and volcano-tectonic reconstruction of its evolution. Our work focused on the last Rift Volcanism phase, where hundreds of cinder cones, associated with thin lava flows, cover most of the island’s surface. Lava flows fields (40), monogenetic volcanic edifices (>90), and volcano–tectonic structures (69), such as dykes, eruptive fissures, and faults have been surveyed and stored in the Geological Map. The map poses fundamental constraints on the Southern Rift geological evolution, mainly concerning its recent activity and allowing the definition of 4 main stages during the last 40 ka. Moreover, this 1:12,500 scale detailed map represents a primary tool for the volcanic hazard assessment of the Island, volcanic monitoring, urban planning, and further stratigraphic data-based investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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18. Ecosystem modeling to evaluate the ecological sustainability of small-scale fisheries: A case study from El Hierro, Canary Islands.
- Author
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Mendoza, José Carlos, de la Cruz-Modino, Raquel, Dorta, Carmelo, Martín- Sosa, Pablo, and Hernández, José Carlos
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SCIENTIFIC knowledge ,FISHERY management ,SMALL-scale fisheries ,ECOLOGICAL models ,SUSTAINABILITY ,MARINE resources ,ISLANDS ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
This paper examines various fishery management scenarios based on the recovery of small-scale fisheries (SSF) following a submarine volcanic eruption in 2011 in El Hierro Island (Canary Islands, Spain). After this catastrophic event, the SSF composition of La Restinga fishing community was affected by socio-economic and demographic changes. The uncertainty derived from this situation provides an opportunity to evaluate the fisheries' sustainability and advice on different management options under an ecosystem-based approach. The Ecopath with Ecosim modeling framework was used to build a model of El Hierro Island, where the versatile and traditional multispecies small-scale fleet of La Restinga operates. Our main goal is to improve traditional fisheries, based on the relevance of key local fisheries and multi-specific fishery strategies in the light of scientific knowledge. Temporal simulations for the next decade were analyzed by creating scenarios of alternative fishing effort distributions based on the fishing trends observed in El Hierro small-scale community of La Restinga after a natural hazard. The outcomes of this modeling prototype show the vulnerability of some littoral and demersal species, the resilience of migratory species, and the sustainability of SSF diversification practices. These results could develop an adaptive and co-management strategy with the local fishing community to preserve the small-scale fishing system and marine resources. • Modeling small-scale fisheries after a submarine volcanic eruption (Canary Islands). • Artisanal fishery diversification increase the sustainability of marine resources. • Ecopath with Ecosim predictions are helpful for optimal fisheries management. • The socio-economic approach is crucial to understanding El Hierro model dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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19. Physical Characterization of Long‐Lasting Hybrid Eruptions: The 2021 Tajogaite Eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma, Canary Islands).
- Author
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Bonadonna, Costanza, Pistolesi, Marco, Biass, Sébastien, Voloschina, Marija, Romero, Jorge, Coppola, Diego, Folch, Arnau, D'Auria, Luca, Martin‐Lorenzo, Alba, Dominguez, Lucia, Pastore, Camille, Reyes Hardy, Maria‐Paz, and Rodríguez, Fátima
- Subjects
EXPLOSIVE volcanic eruptions ,LAVA flows ,VOLCANIC fields ,VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,WEATHER - Abstract
Long‐lasting, hybrid eruptions can be of complex description and classification, especially when associated with multiple eruptive styles and multiple products. The 2021 Tajogaite eruption of La Palma, Canary Islands, was associated with a magma‐gas decoupled system that resulted in the simultaneous emission of lava flows and tephra plumes from various vents. Even though the tephra blanket (∼2 × 107 m3) represents only 7%–16% of the total erupted volume, it provides fundamental insights into the overall eruptive dynamics. Tephra was mostly dispersed NE‐SW due to a complex regional and local wind patterns and was subdivided into 3 units and 11 layers that well correlate at different distances from the vent and with both tremor data and lava emission rate. While plume height varied at the temporal scale of a few hours, the average mass eruption rate associated with the tephra blanket of the different units remained relatively constant (∼3–4 × 103 kg s−1). In contrast, the emission rate of lava largely increased after the first week and remained higher than the overall emission of tephra throughout the whole eruption (average value of ∼6 × 104 kg s−1). Based on a detailed characterization of the tephra blanket in combination with atmospheric wind, tremor, and lava emission trend, we demonstrate the need of (a) multidisciplinary strategies for the description of hybrid eruptions that account for both the duration of individual phases and the quantification of the mass of multiple products, and of (b) dedicated ash dispersal forecasting strategies that account for the frequent variations of eruptive and atmospheric conditions. Plain Language Summary: Volcanic eruptions are mostly subdivided into effusive and explosive when they are associated with the emission of lava flows or with the fragmentation of magma that results in the generation of widespread deposits (i.e., tephra). The September–December 2021 Tajogaite eruption of La Palma Island (Spain) represents a typical example of long‐lasting, hybrid eruption with alternation, or, more often, contemporaneous emission of lava flows and tephra. The lava field extended toward the western sector of the island, while the tephra blanket was mostly dispersed NE‐SW due to a complex regional and local wind pattern. Even though the tephra blanket represents only 7%–16% of the total erupted volume, it provides fundamental insights into the overall eruptive dynamics. Based on a detailed characterization of the tephra blanket, in combination with wind, seismic tremor, and lava emission trend, we demonstrate the need of dedicated strategies for the description of hybrid, long‐lasting eruptions that account for both eruption duration and for the quantification of multiple products (tephra blanket, tephra cone, lava flows). We also show the need of dedicated strategies of short‐range ash dispersal forecasting that account for the frequent variations of eruptive and atmospheric conditions. Key Points: Tephra blanket of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption is only 7%–16% of the total volume but is key to decipher the variable eruptive dynamicsTephra blanket shows distinct layers and units at different distances from vents that well correlate with tremor and lava emission rateHybrid eruptions are best described based on both event duration and mass associated with multiple products (tephra blanket, cone, lava) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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20. Early Precursory Changes in the 3He/4He Ratio Prior to the 2021 Tajogaite Eruption at Cumbre Vieja Volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands.
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Padrón, Eleazar, Pérez, Nemesio M., Hernández, Pedro A., Sumino, Hirochika, Melián, Gladys V., Alonso, Mar, Rodríguez, Fátima, Asensio‐Ramos, María, and D'Auria, Luca
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VOLCANOES ,CANARIES ,HELIUM isotopes ,EARTH'S mantle ,ISLANDS ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
We report significant changes in the 3He/4He ratio measured at the Dos Aguas CO2‐rich cold mineral spring (La Palma, Canary Islands) that represent early precursory signals of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption at Cumbre Vieja volcano. Air‐corrected 3He/4He ratio has an average value of 9.80 RA in the last 30 years (1991–2021). Helium isotope ratios higher than the average value were observed during the period 2008–2013 suggesting an input of 3He‐rich less‐degassed magma beneath La Palma lithosphere. Magma ascended in 2017–2018 toward another reservoir located beneath Cumbre Vieja at 10–15 km depth, causing detectable seismic swarms located between 15 and 25 km, followed in 2020 by additional inputs of 3He‐rich less‐degassed magma that intruded at depth. Finally, in 2021 the buoyancy of magma and the pressure of the exsolved gases overcame the lithospheric resistance and a volcanic eruption took place between 19 September and 13 December 2021. Plain Language Summary: In this work we report how measurements of helium, released from the mantle of the Earth and present in the bubbling gases of a CO2‐rich cold mineral spring, showed the earliest geochemical precursory signals of the 2021 Tajogaite eruption that took place at Cumbre Vieja volcano, La Palma Island (Canary Islands). According to our data, magma began to rise from deep sources of the mantle in the period 2008–2013 and other important inputs took place in 2020. Key Points: The primordial component of the Canary mantle source is feeding the gases released at Dos Aguas CO2‐rich cold mineral springThe Tajogaite eruption of 19 September–13 December 2021 at Cumbre Vieja volcano, was preceded by significant changes in the 3He/4He ratioThe magmatic reactivation started in the period 2008–2013, when an input of less‐degassed magma rose to shallower lithospheric depths beneath La Palma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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21. Petrological and geochemical Highlights in the floating fragments of the October 2011 submarine eruption offshore El Hierro (Canary Islands): Relevance of submarine hydrothermal processes.
- Author
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Rodriguez-Losada, Jose A., Eff-Darwich, Antonio, Hernandez, Luis E., Viñas, Ronaldo, Pérez, Nemesio, Hernandez, Pedro, Melián, Gladys, Martinez-Frías, Jesús, Romero-Ruiz, M. Carmen, and Coello-Bravo, Juan Jesús
- Subjects
- *
VOLCANIC eruptions , *PETROLOGY , *ANALYTICAL geochemistry , *SUBMARINE geology - Abstract
This paper describes the main physical, petrological and geochemical features of the floating fragments that were emitted in the initial stages of the 2011–2012 submarine eruption off the coast of the Canarian island of El Hierro, located 380 km from the Northwest African Coast. It attempts to assess the potential of radiometric analyses to discern the intriguing origin of the floating fragments and the differences between their constituent parts. In this regard, the material that conforms the core of the fragments contains the largest concentration of uranium (U) ever found in volcanic rocks of the Canary Islands. This enrichment in U is not found in the content of thorium (Th), hence the floating fragments have an unusual U/Th ratio, namely equal to or larger than 3. Although the origin of this material is under discussion, it is proposed that the enrichment in U is the result of hydrothermal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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22. Fractal Analysis of Enclaves as a New Tool for Estimating Rheological Properties of Magmas During Mixing: The Case of Montaña Reventada (Tenerife, Canary Islands).
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Albert, Helena, Perugini, Diego, and Martí, Joan
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FRACTAL analysis ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,PHONOLITE ,IGNEOUS rocks - Abstract
The volcanic unit of Montaña Reventada on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) is an example of magma mingling and mixing in which the eruptive process was triggered by an intrusion of basanite into a phonolite magma chamber. The eruption started with emplacement of a basanitic scoria deposit followed by emplacement of a phonolitic lava flow characterized by the presence of mafic enclaves. These enclaves represent approximately 1 % of the outcrop and are basanitic, phono-tephritic and tephri-phonolitic in composition. The morphology of each enclave is different, varying from rounded to complex finger-like structures usually with cuspate terminations. In this study we quantified textural heterogeneity related to the enclaves generated by the mixing process and thus provided a new perspective on the 1100 Ad Montaña Reventada eruption. The textural study was performed by use of fractal geometry methods and the results show that the logarithm of the viscosity ratio between the phonolitic magma and the enclaves ranges between 0.39 and 0.81, with a mode at 0.49. This enables us to infer the water content is 2-2.5 wt% for the phonolitic magma and 1.5-2 wt% for the basanitic magma and the enclaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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23. Transient Changes in Bacterioplankton Communities Induced by the Submarine Volcanic Eruption of El Hierro (Canary Islands).
- Author
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Ferrera, Isabel, Arístegui, Javier, González, José M., Montero, María F., Fraile-Nuez, Eugenio, and Gasol, Josep M.
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BACTERIOPLANKTON ,SUBMARINE geology ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,MICROORGANISM populations ,PYROSEQUENCING - Abstract
The submarine volcanic eruption occurring near El Hierro (Canary Islands) in October 2011 provided a unique opportunity to determine the effects of such events on the microbial populations of the surrounding waters. The birth of a new underwater volcano produced a large plume of vent material detectable from space that led to abrupt changes in the physical-chemical properties of the water column. We combined flow cytometry and 454-pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons (V1–V3 regions for Bacteria and V3–V5 for Archaea) to monitor the area around the volcano through the eruptive and post-eruptive phases (November 2011 to April 2012). Flow cytometric analyses revealed higher abundance and relative activity (expressed as a percentage of high-nucleic acid content cells) of heterotrophic prokaryotes during the eruptive process as compared to post-eruptive stages. Changes observed in populations detectable by flow cytometry were more evident at depths closer to the volcano (~70–200 m), coinciding also with oxygen depletion. Alpha-diversity analyses revealed that species richness (Chao1 index) decreased during the eruptive phase; however, no dramatic changes in community composition were observed. The most abundant taxa during the eruptive phase were similar to those in the post-eruptive stages and to those typically prevalent in oceanic bacterioplankton communities (i.e. the alphaproteobacterial SAR11 group, the Flavobacteriia class of the Bacteroidetes and certain groups of Gammaproteobacteria). Yet, although at low abundance, we also detected the presence of taxa not typically found in bacterioplankton communities such as the Epsilonproteobacteria and members of the candidate division ZB3, particularly during the eruptive stage. These groups are often associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vents or sulfur-rich springs. Both cytometric and sequence analyses showed that once the eruption ceased, evidences of the volcano-induced changes were no longer observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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24. Palaeomagnetic constraints on the age of Lomo Negro volcanic eruption (El Hierro, Canary Islands).
- Author
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Villasante-Marcos, Víctor and Pavón-Carrasco, Francisco Javier
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PALEOMAGNETISM ,CONSTRAINTS (Physics) ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,MAGNETIC properties of rocks ,DEMAGNETIZATION - Abstract
A palaeomagnetic study has been carried out in 29 cores drilled at six different sites from the volcanic products of Lomo Negro eruption (El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain). Systematic thermal and alternating field demagnetization of the samples' natural remanent magnetization revealed a northward, stable palaeomagnetic direction similar in all the samples. Rock magnetic experiments indicate that this palaeomagnetic component is carried by a mixture of high-Ti and low-Ti titanomagnetite crystals typical of basaltic lithologies that have experienced a significant degree of oxyexsolution during subaerial cooling. The well constrained palaeomagnetic direction of Lomo Negro lavas was used to perform a palaeomagnetic dating of the volcanic event, using the SHA.DIF.14k global geomagnetic model restricted for the last 3000 yr. It can be unambiguously concluded that Lomo Negro eruption occurred well before the previously proposed date of 1793 AD, with three different age ranges being statistically possible during the last 3 ka: 115 BC-7 AD, 410-626 AD and 1499-1602 AD. The calibration of a previously published non-calibrated
14 C dating suggests a XVI c. date for Lomo Negro eruption. This conclusion leaves open the possibility that the seismic crisis occurred at El Hierro in 1793 AD was related to an intrusive magmatic event that either did not reach the surface or either culminated in an unregistered submarine eruption similar to the one occurred in 2011-2012 at the southern off-shore ridge of the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2014
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25. The Submarine Volcano Eruption off El Hierro Island: Effects on the Scattering Migrant Biota and the Evolution of the Pelagic Communities.
- Author
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Ariza, Alejandro, Kaartvedt, Stein, Røstad, Anders, Garijo, Juan Carlos, Arístegui, Javier, Fraile-Nuez, Eugenio, and Hernández-León, Santiago
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VOLCANIC eruptions ,HYDROGRAPHY ,REMOTE-sensing images ,TEMPERATURE effect ,BIOTIC communities - Abstract
The submarine volcano eruption off El Hierro Island (Canary Islands) on 10 October 2011 promoted dramatic perturbation of the water column leading to changes in the distribution of pelagic fauna. To study the response of the scattering biota, we combined acoustic data with hydrographic profiles and concurrent sea surface turbidity indexes from satellite imagery. We also monitored changes in the plankton and nekton communities through the eruptive and post-eruptive phases. Decrease of oxygen, acidification, rising temperature and deposition of chemicals in shallow waters resulted in a reduction of epipelagic stocks and a disruption of diel vertical migration (nocturnal ascent) of mesopelagic organisms. Furthermore, decreased light levels at depth caused by extinction in the volcanic plume resulted in a significant shallowing of the deep acoustic scattering layer. Once the eruption ceased, the distribution and abundances of the pelagic biota returned to baseline levels. There was no evidence of a volcano-induced bloom in the plankton community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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26. Volcanic alert system (VAS) developed during the 2011-2014 El Hierro (Canary Islands) volcanic process.
- Author
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García, Alicia, Berrocoso, Manuel, Marrero, José, Fernández-Ros, Alberto, Prates, Gonçalo, De la Cruz-Reyna, Servando, and Ortiz, Ramón
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VOLCANIC eruptions ,VOLCANOES ,VOLCANIC activity prediction ,EARTHQUAKES ,DATA analysis - Abstract
The 2011 volcanic unrest at El Hierro Island illustrated the need for a Volcanic Alert System (VAS) specifically designed for the management of volcanic crises developing after long repose periods. The VAS comprises the monitoring network, the software tools for analysis of the monitoring parameters, the Volcanic Activity Level (VAL) management, and the assessment of hazard. The VAS presented here focuses on phenomena related to moderate eruptions, and on potentially destructive volcano-tectonic earthquakes and landslides. We introduce a set of new data analysis tools, aimed to detect data trend changes, as well as spurious signals related to instrumental failure. When data-trend changes and/or malfunctions are detected, a watchdog is triggered, issuing a watch-out warning (WOW) to the Monitoring Scientific Team (MST). The changes in data patterns are then translated by the MST into a VAL that is easy to use and understand by scientists, technicians, and decision-makers. Although the VAS was designed specifically for the unrest episodes at El Hierro, the methodologies may prove useful at other volcanic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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27. Internal flow variations and diachronous sedimentation within extensive, sustained, density-stratified pyroclastic density currents flowing down gentle slopes, as revealed by the internal architectures of ignimbrites on Tenerife.
- Author
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Brown, Richard and Branney, Michael
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VOLCANOES ,VOLCANISM ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,VOLCANIC ash, tuff, etc. ,VOLCANIC fields ,SEDIMENTATION & deposition - Abstract
During a protracted explosive eruption, at least four laterally extensive and sustained pyroclastic density currents radiated across the flanks of Las Cañadas volcano, Tenerife. Each pyroclastic current developed marked local and regional spatial variations in response to the incised, gently concave substrate topography. The locations of these variations shifted in space as rapid sedimentation from the current progressively buried and modified the topography. This complex, shifting response of the density currents to minor topographic variations has been reconstructed in high-resolution over a wide area (>500 km) using the internal architecture of cryptic time-surfaces (entrachrons) marked by compositional zoning in the deposit, including variations in clast types. Valley-side field relations reveal that the currents were density-stratified. Yet, at a single instant in time, the lower levels of each current comprised a granular-fluid at some locations but were fully dilute and turbulent at others. Moreover, the locations of these variations shifted geographically as the topography changed during the eruption. The variations within the current are recorded by numerous superbly exposed gradational transitions from various stratified to massive lithofacies, both laterally and in the downcurrent direction. Individual currents were regionally widespread and travelled >15 km, but deposited only in longitudinally restricted, localised zones that spanned several small valleys and interfluves. The currents bypassed slopes up- and downcurrent of the restricted depositional zones, without depositing. The locations of deposition then gradually shifted with time, such that the extensive deposit sheet was gradually assembled beneath the sustained current in a diachronous fashion. Onlap relationships of internal entrachrons reveal that the base of the ignimbrite sheet and even the bases of individual flow-units are markedly diachronous. Deposition of a flow-unit commenced and ceased at different times in different places. This study suggests that in hazard assessments: (a) models of density currents that incorporate only pre-existing topography (e.g. from DEMs) may give misleading results in the case of sustained currents because sedimentation from these significantly modifies the topography during emplacement, altering flow paths; (b) frequencies and scales of previous pyroclastic currents determined from pyroclastic successions are likely to be significantly under-estimated because currents commonly bypass without leaving a deposit record; and (c) even where preservation appears to be complete, an ignimbrite at a single exposure commonly will not record the current's entire flow history at that site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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28. Correlation of Magma Evolution and Geophysical Monitoring during the 2011–2012 El Hierro (Canary Islands) Submarine Eruption.
- Author
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Martí, Joan, Castro, Antonio, Rodríguez, Carmen, Costa, Fidel, Carrasquilla, Sandra, Pedreira, Rocío, and Bolos, Xavier
- Subjects
MAGMAS ,GEOPHYSICS ,VOLCANIC eruptions ,PETROLOGY ,GEOCHEMISTRY ,TEMPERATURE effect - Abstract
The application of petrography, mineral chemistry, geochemistry, and experimental petrology, including mineral–melt thermodynamic and diffusion modelling, on quenched basanitic magma samples from the recent (2011–2012) submarine eruption of El Hierro (Canary Islands) has permitted the identification of major physico-chemical variations prior to and during magma eruption that correlate in time with monitored geophysical changes. After nearly 3 months of seismic unrest the eruption of El Hierro started on October 10, 2011 and ended by late February 2012. We studied 10 lava balloons and pyroclastic fragments collected floating on the sea surface between October 15 and late January. Based on petrological and geophysical data we distinguish two main eruptive episodes. Magma erupted from the beginning of the eruption until late November 2011 was an evolved basanite (≈5 wt % MgO), changing to more primitive compositions (≈8–9 wt % MgO) with time, thus suggesting extraction from a compositionally zoned magma system. Experimental data and mineral–melt thermodynamic modelling indicate that the erupted magma equilibrated at a pressure of about 400 MPa, which corresponds to a depth of 12–15 km. This depth is consistent with the location of the crust–mantle discontinuity beneath El Hierro and with the hypocentral location of seismicity during the unrest episode. Preliminary modelling of the olivine chemical zoning of crystals erupted in this first episode suggests that the time scale for basanite fractionation and magma replenishment in the shallower reservoir was of the order of a few months. This is within the same time frame as the duration of the unrest episode preceding the eruption. The first eruption episode coincided with intense seismicity mostly located north of the island, first at a depth of 20–25 km and a few days later also at 10–15 km depth, with strong seismic tremor beneath the vent site. An abrupt change in magma composition and crystal content was observed at the end of November 2011. After that, more primitive and less viscous magma erupted contemporaneously with a change in the frequency and intensity of seismic events. During this period, seismicity was mostly north of the island at depths of 10–15 km. At the same time the tremor intensity at the eruption site significantly dropped. This marked the onset of the second eruption episode, which is correlated with an intrusion of fresh, more primitive magma into the shallow magmatic system that raised the temperature of the remaining magma. Experiments reveal that subtle changes in temperature of about 50°C (i.e. 1100–1150°C) were enough to produce large changes in the crystal content (10–60 wt %). This non-linear behaviour between crystal content and temperature had important effects on magma dynamics during transport and cooling. Our results suggest the existence of two interconnected mafic magma reservoirs during the El Hierro eruption, which agrees with the pattern shown by the seismicity. Stress readjustments of the plumbing system, caused by decompression during the eruption, influenced the thermodynamic evolution of the erupting magma and facilitated the intrusion of the deeper magma into the shallow reservoir, thus forcing a change in its rheological characteristics and eruption dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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29. Basaltic feeder dykes in rift zones: geometry, emplacement, and effusion rates.
- Author
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Galindo, I. and Gudmundsson, A.
- Subjects
BASALT ,DIKES (Geology) ,VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,MAGMATISM ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
Most volcanic hazards depend on an injected dyke reaching the surface to form a feeder. Assessing the volcanic hazard in an area is thus related to understanding the condition for the formation of a feeder dyke in that area. For this latter, we need good field data on feeder dykes, their geometries, internal structures, and other characteristics that distinguish them from non-feeders. Unfortunately, feeder dykes are rarely observed, partly because they are commonly covered by their own products. For this reason, outcrops are scarce and usually restricted to cliffs, ravines, and man-made outcrops. Here we report the results of a study of feeder dykes in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) and Iceland, focusing on their field characteristics and how their propagation is affected by existing structures. Although Holocene fissure eruptions have been common in both islands, only eleven basaltic feeder dykes have been identified: eight in Tenerife and three in Iceland. They are all well preserved and the relation with the eruptive fissure and/or the deposits is well exposed. While the eruptive fissures are generally longer in Iceland than in Tenerife, their feeders show many similarities, the main ones being that the feeder dykes (1) are generally sheet-shaped; (2) are segmented (as are the associated volcanic fissures); (3) normally contain elongated (prolate ellipsoidal) cavities in their central, topmost parts, that is, 2-3m below the surface (with solidified magma drops on the cavity walls); (4) contain vesicles which increase in size and number close to the surface; (5) sometimes inject oblique dyke fingers into the planes of existing faults that cross the dyke paths; and (6) may reactivate, that is, trigger slip on existing faults. We analyse theoretically the feeder dyke of the 1991 Hekla eruption in Iceland. Our results indicate that during the initial peak in the effusion rate the opening (aperture) of the feeder dyke was as wide as 0.77m, but quickly decreased to about 0.56m. During the subsequent decline in the effusion rate to a minimum, the aperture decreased to about 0.19m. At a later abrupt increase in the effusion rate, the feeder-dyke opening may have increased to about 0.34m, and then decreased again as the effusion rate gradually declined during the end stages of the eruption. These thickness estimates fit well with those of many feeders in Iceland and Tenerife, and with the general dyke thickness within fossil central volcanoes in Iceland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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30. Insights into the 2011-2012 submarine eruption off the coast of El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain) from statistical analyses of earthquake activity.
- Author
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Ibáñez, J. M., De Angelis, S., Díaz-Moreno, A., Hernández, P., Alguacil, G., Posadas, A., and Pérez, N.
- Subjects
VOLCANIC eruptions ,STATISTICS ,EARTHQUAKES ,FORECASTING ,SEISMOLOGY ,VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,MAGMATISM - Abstract
SUMMARY The purpose of this work is to gain insights into the 2011-2012 eruption of El Hierro (Canary Islands) by mapping the evolution of the seismic b-value. The El Hierro seismic sequence offers a rather unique opportunity to investigate the process of reawakening of an oceanic intraplate volcano after a long period of repose. The 2011-2012 eruption is a submarine volcanic event that took place about 2 km off of the southern coast of El Hierro. The eruption was accompanied by an intense seismic swarm and surface manifestations of activity. The earthquake catalogue during the period of unrest includes over 12 000 events, the largest with magnitude 4.6. The seismic sequence can be grouped into three distinct phases, which correspond to well-separated spatial clusters and distinct earthquake regimes. The estimated b-value is of 1.18 ± 0.03, and a magnitude of completeness of 1.3, for the entire catalogue. B is very close to 1.0, which indicates completeness of the earthquake catalogue with only minor departures from the linearity of Gutenberg-Richter frequency-magnitude distribution. The most straightforward interpretation of this result is that the seismic swarm reached its final stages, and no additional large magnitude events should be anticipated, similarly to what one would expect for non-volcanic earthquake sequences. The results, dividing the activity in different phases, illustrate remarkable differences in the estimate of b-value during the early and late stages of the eruption. The early pre-eruptive activity was characterized by a b-value of 2.25. In contrast, the b-value was 1.25 during the eruptive phase. Based on our analyses, and the results of other studies, we propose a scenario that may account for the observations reported in this work. We infer that the earthquakes that occurred in the first phase reflect magma migration from the upper mantle to crustal depths. The area where magma initially intruded into the crust, because of its transitional nature is characterized by high fracturing, thus favours anomalously high b-values. The larger magnitude earthquakes recorded in the second phase may reflect relaxation around the magma reservoir that had fed the eruption and, thus, lower b-values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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- View/download PDF
31. Eruptive scenarios of phonolitic volcanism at Teide-Pico Viejo volcanic complex (Tenerife, Canary Islands).
- Author
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Martí, J., Sobradelo, R., Felpeto, A., and García, O.
- Subjects
VOLCANISM ,VOLCANIC hazard analysis ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
Recent studies on Teide-Pico Viejo (TPV) complex have revealed that explosive activity of phonolitic and basaltic magmas, including plinian and subplinian eruptions, and the generation of a wide range of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have also been significant. We perform a statistical analysis of the time series of past eruptions and the spatial extent of their erupted products, including lava flows, fallout and PDCs. We use an extreme value theory statistical method to calculate eruption recurrence. The analysis of past activity and extent of some well-identified deposits is used to calculate the eruption recurrence probabilities of various sizes and for different time periods. With this information, we compute several significant scenarios using the GIS-based VORIS 2 software (Felpeto et al., J Volcanol Geotherm Res 166:106-116, ) in order to evaluate the potential extent of the main eruption hazards that could be expected from TPV. The simulated hazard scenarios show that the southern flank of Tenerife is protected by Las Cañadas caldera wall against lava flows and pyroclastic density currents, but not against ash fallout. The Icod Valley, and to a minor extent also the La Orotava valley, is directly exposed to most of TPV hazards, in particular to the gravity driven flows. This study represents a step forward in the evaluation of volcanic hazard at TPV with regard to previous studies, and the results obtained should be useful for intermediate and long-term land-use and emergency planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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- View/download PDF
32. Floating stones off El Hierro, Canary Islands: xenoliths of pre-island sedimentary origin in the early products of the October 2011 eruption.
- Author
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Troll, V. R., Klügel, A., Longpré, M.-A., Burchardt, S., Deegan, F. M., Carracedo, J. C., Wiesmaier, S., Kueppers, U., Dahren, B., Blythe, L. S., Hansteen, T. H., Freda, C., Budd, D. A., Jolis, E. M., Jonsson, E., Meade, F. C., Harris, C., Berg, S. E., Mancini, L., and Polacci, M.
- Subjects
INCLUSIONS in igneous rocks ,SEDIMENTARY rocks ,SUBMARINE volcanoes ,VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
The article presents a study which explores the origin of xenoliths as early floating stones from the pre-island sedimentary rocks during a submarine eruption in El Hierro, Canary Islands on October 10, 2011. The study investigates the textures and compositions of representative restingolites. The study concludes that the early floating stones are vesiculated crustal xenoliths which originated from the substantial layer of sub-volcanic pre-island sedimentary rocks.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
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33. Petrology and Geochemistry of the Quaternary Caldera-forming, Phonolitic Granadilla Eruption, Tenerife (Canary Islands).
- Author
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Bryan, Scott E.
- Subjects
VOLCANIC eruptions ,IGNIMBRITE ,GEOCHEMISTRY ,PETROLOGY ,GEOPHYSICS - Abstract
The Granadilla eruption at 600 ka was one of the largest phonolitic explosive eruptions from the Las Cañadas volcano on Tenerife, producing a classical plinian eruptive sequence of a widespread pumice fall deposit overlain by an ignimbrite. The eruption resulted in a major phase of caldera collapse that probably destroyed the shallow-level magma chamber system. Granadilla pumices contain a diverse phenocryst assemblage of alkali feldspar + biotite + sodian diopside to aegirine–augite + titanomagnetite + ilmenite + nosean/haüyne + titanite + apatite; alkali feldspar is the dominant phenocryst and biotite is the main ferromagnesian phase. Kaersutite and partially resorbed plagioclase (oligoclase to sodic andesine) are present in some eruptive units, particularly in pumice erupted during the early plinian phase, and in the Granadilla ignimbrite at the top of the sequence. Associated with the kaersutite and plagioclase are small clots of microlitic plagioclase and kaersutite interpreted as quenched blebs of tephriphonolitic magma within the phonolite pumice. The Granadilla Member has previously been recognized as an example of reverse-then-normal compositional zonation, where the zonation is primarily expressed in terms of substantial variations in trace element abundances with limited major element variation (cryptic zonation). Evidence for cryptic zonation is also provided by the chemistry of the phenocryst phases, and corresponding changes in intensive parameters (e.g. T, f O2, f H2O). Geothermometry estimates indicate that the main body of phonolite magma had a temperature gradient from 860 °C to ∼790 °C, with hotter magma (≥900 °C) tapped at the onset and terminal phases of the eruption. The reverse-then-normal chemical and thermal zonation reflects the initial tapping of a partially hybridized magma (mixing of phonolite and tephriphonolite), followed by the more sequential tapping of a zoned and relatively large body of highly evolved phonolite at a new vent and during the main plinian phase. This suggests that the different magma types within the main holding chamber could have been laterally juxtaposed, as well as in a density-stratified arrangement. Correlations between the presence of mixed phenocryst populations (i.e. presence of plagioclase and kaersutite) and coarser pumice fall layers suggest that increased eruption vigour led to the tapping of hybridized and/or less evolved magma probably from greater depths in the chamber. New oxygen isotope data for glass and mineral separates preclude syn-eruptive interaction between the vesiculating magma and hydrothermal fluids as the cause of the Sr isotope disequilibrium identified previously for the deposit. Enrichment in radiogenic Sr in the pumice glass has more likely been due to low-temperature exchange with meteoric water that was enriched in 87Sr by sea spray, which may be a common process affecting porous and glassy pyroclastic deposits on oceanic islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Strategies for the development of volcanic hazard maps in monogenetic volcanic fields: the example of La Palma (Canary Islands).
- Author
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Marrero, José M., García, Alicia, Berrocoso, Manuel, Llinares, Ángeles, Rodríguez-Losada, Antonio, and Ortiz, Ramón
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VOLCANIC eruptions ,VOLCANIC fields ,SCIENTIFIC communication ,GEOGRAPHIC information systems ,CANARIES ,ISLANDS - Abstract
Traditionally volcanic-hazard assessments have been applied to stratovolcanoes, where volcanic hazard maps represent important tools for volcanic crisis management and land-use planning. In recent years, several improvements have been made for monogenetic volcanic fields focused on, among other things, the development of spatial models to deal with one of the main problems in these areas, namely the unknown vent location. However, volcanic hazard maps of monogenetic volcanic fields present some significant differences with respect to those developed for stratovolcanoes, including the fact that they commonly represent multiple eruptive processes spread over the possible vent opening area. Likewise, the scientific communication of the volcanic-hazard assessment and how this information is comprehended are critical issues in the development of mitigation strategies for monogenetic volcanic fields. In this research, we focused on developing volcanic hazard maps using simple numerical hazard models in combination with a random approach for vent location to cover the whole vent opening area. We added some spatial methods to better manage potentially affected areas. The maps were designed for use in a digital environment (Geographic Information System) by Civil Protection professionals in high-risk monogenetic volcanic fields on small oceanic islands. The methodology presented does not use susceptibility base maps for hazard assessment to avoid possible underestimation of low probability areas by Civil Protection. The methodology represents an attempt to respond to the most important questions of where, when and how a new eruption might take place in a monogenetic volcanic field. The example presented here was developed for La Palma (Canary Islands). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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