SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Sep 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The volcanic eruption that began ten days ago in Cumbre Vieja continues to show the strombolian mechanism that it has been registering until now, but with a more effusive character compared to the previous days, especially in the emission center of the north flank, and the cloud of ash could affect air traffic tomorrow between La Palma, Tenerife and La Gomera “.
This was reported at a press conference by the spokesperson for the scientific committee of the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca), María José Blanco, director of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in the Canary Islands, who appeared together with the technical director of the Plan, Miguel Angel Morcuende.
María José Blanco explained that the eruptive process continues to show – and may show – episodes of increased and decreased activity, and although the strombolian explosions have ceased in the last few hours, she warned that it is possible that they may restart abruptly in the weather.
Likewise, he indicated that yesterday Monday a new casting began from the north flank with a higher emission rate. He explained that this runs on previous flows, so it advances faster and has reached the center of Todoque, being at an approximate distance from the coast of about 2 kilometers. Furthermore, the estimated volume of the cone generated so far is 10 million cubic meters (m3) of lava.
María José Blanco pointed out that from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday there was a sharp decrease in the volcanic tremor signal and from 6:15 p.m. different events began to be recorded, first an intense degassing with columns of water vapor from whitish color, followed by an ash emission in the main crater. As of 7.15 pm, the emission of lava flows from the north flank began with the important appearance of a lava fountain, which is indicative of Hawaiian activity.
According to Blanco, all these observables are justified by a drop in the level of magma within the conduit of the eruptive center that has caused a temporary plugging, and the unplugging of this conduit has led to the emission of water vapor and ash and the subsequent increase of the volcanic tremor and emission of lava. In turn, the morphology of the cone continues to change repeatedly due to the successive processes of growth and reconfiguration.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Regarding the meteorological conditions for the next 24 hours, the Aemet predicts that winds from the northeast will continue to blow below 1,000 meters with intensities of between 25 and 40 km / h, and may be stronger on the southeast coast and on the northwest slope. from La Palma. On the west side of the island, the influence of the breezes in the daytime cycle will continue. Between 1,500-3,000 meters, the flow will be north and, above this level, a weak westerly wind is expected.
María José Blanco explained that due to this distribution of winds in height, a cloud of ash and sulfur dioxide (SO2) has been produced that moves towards the south and southeast of the Archipelago. He added that in its displacement it is possible that it could affect the airspace between La Palma, La Gomera and the west of Tenerife, without ruling out that fine ash could reach La Gomera, mainly, and west of Tenerife.
At the end of the term of this forecast, the spokesperson added, it is likely that the ash cloud will be in a north-south disposition, and could affect the island of El Hierro, adding that the presence of a marked thermal inversion and weak winds at low levels they are unfavorable conditions from the point of view of air quality.
According to the Aemet prediction, rainfall is ruled out in the next 24 hours and a low probability of light rains at the end of the day tomorrow, both in the north and east of La Palma.
SEISMICITY.
Regarding seismicity, it continues to be located mainly at a depth of 10 kilometers and in the environment where seismic activity began on September 11, but some surface earthquakes are also recorded in the vicinity of the emission center. The deformations continue to maintain a stabilization of their horizontal components and a decrease in the vertical component.
On the other hand, the SO2 emission rate into the atmosphere has suffered a marked decrease and is currently around 567 tons per day, and the emission of gases and ashes reaches and exceeds 5,200 meters in height.
