SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The fissure eruption of the volcano on the island of La Palma continues to show its strombolian mechanism and continues to reflect a downward trend in recent days, with low and stable seismicity values, with stability of the deformation and with an emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) in clear decline.
This was stated at a press conference by the technical director of Pevolca, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, and the director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands and spokesperson for the Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, who pointed out that although the volcano is in a more stable process and with a lower level of activity, the end of the eruption is not foreseen in the short term.
María José Blanco indicated that there is a “steady and slow” decrease in all the parameters associated with the eruption, but insisted that these downward trends must continue to be maintained to reach lower levels.
For his part, the technical director of Pevolca stressed that seismicity continues with low values in the intermediate zone, between 10 and 15 km, and remains stable at depths greater than 20 km, both in the number and magnitude of the earthquakes. However, at noon yesterday there was an upturn in the volcanic tremor that will be monitored and monitored over the next few days.
Regarding deformation, Miguel Ángel Morcuende highlighted that stability is maintained in all stations, without movements in the vertical component, and the horizontal trends of each of the stations remain stable, both in LP03, the most close to the eruptive center, as in the regional ones.
Regarding the emission of sulfur dioxide associated with the plume, the technical director highlighted that there has been a “significant and appreciable” decrease yesterday, which confirms the “clearly downward” general trend in terms of SO2 emissions.
DECREASED AIR QUALITY
Among the most relevant events that occurred in the last 24 hours, it stands out that, due to the worsening of the air quality index during yesterday, the classroom activity has been suspended on Tuesday in El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte, Tijarafe and Puntagorda.
Likewise, the levels of gases in the southern area of the wash, within the evacuated area, have prevented another day from the entry of personnel through the El Charco access. In addition, during the night of today high values of sulfur dioxide (SO2) have been detected in Las Manchas and normal values in Puerto Naos.
Regarding the number of shelters, a total of 480 people remain in hotel centers, one more than yesterday. Of this number, 413 are staying at the Fuencaliente hotel and 67 at the Los Llanos hotel. In addition, there are 43 dependent people cared for in insular health centers.
The area affected by the volcanic eruption is 1,034.32 hectares, 14.53 more than the previous day, mainly due to the growth towards the south of the front of the pouring 9. Likewise, the maximum width between pourings is already 3,200 meters and the lava delta reaches an area of 41.99 hectares, 1.09 more, according to data from the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain.
In the last 24 hours, the largest contribution of lava has been registered in the front of the pool 9, which continues to advance, and there have also been contributions in the front of the pools 1 and 2, which has made that gaps have been filled they were not affected by the lava.
On the other hand, the Cadastre data indicates that 1,462 buildings have been affected, of which 1,181 are for residential use; 152 for agricultural use; 67 for industrial use; 34 of leisure and hospitality; 13 for public use, and 15 for other uses. For its part, the affected crop area stands at 305.59 hectares, of which 179.36 are banana trees, 59.9 are vineyards and 24.82 are avocados.
HIGH ASH EMISSION RATE.
Yesterday, the high rate of ash emission continued, which, due to meteorological conditions, mainly affected the areas to the north and northwest of the emitting center. Likewise, as of last night the strombolian activity increased and the contribution of lava continues in the area of the lava deltas, causing less damage to the marine environment than in previous days.
The height of the eruptive column measured today at 8:45 am was 3,000 meters, with a scattering cloud in an easterly direction. On the other hand, the current level of seismicity continues to indicate that it is possible that more felt earthquakes may occur, reaching intensities V-VI and causing small landslides in sloping areas.
Regarding the sulfur dioxide measured in the volcanic plume, yesterday it continued to register high values, between 3,000 and 3,500 tons per day. However, satellite images continue to reflect a downward trend since September 23, when they reached 50,000 tons per day.
In the case of the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with the Cumbre Vieja building, it continues to register values above the background levels, reaching a value between 2,000 and 2,500 tons per day yesterday. At the Los Llanos station, a slight magmatic-hydrothermal fraction continues to be recorded in SO2, but not at the Fuencaliente station.
In relation to the meteorology, the wind will be from the northeast on the surface with a breeze regime and from the northeast between 1,000 and 1,500 meters and from the east between 1,500 and 5,000, so the arrangement of the sulfur dioxide and ash plume will be in a western direction. -Southwest, which will affect the operation of La Palma Airport throughout today. The probability of weak rainfall throughout today and tomorrow is low. The thermal inversion is also reinforced, which is situated at a slightly higher level, around 1,700-1,900 meters, which facilitates the dispersion of gases.
