SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Oct. 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The new emission center that took place yesterday afternoon on the island of La Palma has decreased its activity in the last hours, although the appearance of new centers is not ruled out, and the flows located south of the mountain of La Laguna continue to advance and are already just 300-400 meters from the coast.
The spokesperson for the Pevolca Scientific Committee, María José Blanco, explained at a press conference that this old point of emission was reactivated some 300 meters southeast of the base of the main cone, manifesting a phreatomagmatic activity with emission only of ash. He added that the beginning of this event occurred simultaneously with a greater phreatomagmatic activity of the emission centers of the main cone, which usually has a strombolian activity.
María José Blanco pointed out that members of the Scientific Committee have already visited this emission center, which is emitting ashes with less activity. He commented that it is an area in which a very diffuse fumarolic emission already appeared several days ago and that yesterday it emerged concentrated in space and accompanied by a phreatomagmatic activity, throwing ashes into the air, although this morning that activity seemed to have a lower level.
As for the streams located south of the La Laguna mountain, the Pevolca technical director, Rubén Fernández, indicated that the stream closest to the mountain has continued to evolve towards the west. This stream was channeled late yesterday into a small trough and today it continues its march at a slower speed, standing around 300-400 meters from the sea.
Regarding the lava finger that was separated from this wash, the Pevolca technical director reported that it has ended up destroying the La Laguna soccer field and continues to advance at a slow pace. In any case, he recalled that this entire area has been evacuated, so the physical integrity of any person is not at risk.
Seismicity has been maintained for several days at a depth of around 36-37 km. María José Blanco explained that the forecast is that earthquakes will occur “more strongly felt” by the population in the coming days. In this sense, he pointed out that the ceiling of 4.6 magnitude and an intensity of V has already been reached, and he did not rule out that these indices could be exceeded in the coming days.
AFFECTED SURFACE.
The affected area to date is 742 hectares and the maximum width of the wash is around 2,350 meters. On the other hand, the latest Copernicus data indicates that there are 1,923 buildings / constructions affected, of which 1,826 are destroyed and 97 at risk or partially affected. Regarding the Cadastre data, there would be a total of 1,058 buildings affected, of which 854 are for residential use.
As of today, there are no planned confinements or new evacuations. However, Rubén Fernández warned that everything will depend on whether there were any “very unfavorable” developments in some areas. In this regard, he commented that if in any case the air quality worsens to levels that could be dangerous for the population, the confinement of the population in risk environments will be ordered. Likewise, he reported that the irrigation work and removal of belongings continue today Saturday.
He also recalled that at 7:00 p.m. there will be an informative talk in the Tazacorte Pavilion, where the residents will be able to know first-hand what is the current situation of the eruptive process from the staff of the Scientific Committee, as well as representatives of the IGN and the They involve.
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.
The Pevolca Scientific Committee report indicates that the fissure eruption continues but with a predominance of the effusive phase, which is evidenced by higher lava flow emissions and less ash emission. The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) has so far remained at 2, on a scale of 0 to 8. The height of the ash and gas column measured today, as well as its dispersion, reaches 4,500 meters.
Regarding the meteorological conditions, the south and west component winds are expected to continue in height. At this time, the disposal of the ash plume and sulfur dioxide (SO2) will continue in a north-northeast direction for the next 24 to 36 hours. The current and planned disposition of the plume caused the fall of ashes at La Palma Airport, affecting its operation.
Furthermore, it is probable that the ash cloud could affect a stratum around a flight level of 100 of the airspace between La Palma, La Gomera and the north of Tenerife. The meteorological conditions are unfavorable from the point of view of air quality due to a pronounced thermal inversion located between 300 and 500 meters of altitude. The 10 micron particulate matter (PM10) will be increased by desert dust as a consequence of the entry of a Saharan air mass.
The local deformation in the station closest to the eruptive center (LP-03) has totally reversed the accumulated horizontal deformation and the rest of the stations do not show any significant pattern.
The emission of sulfur dioxide associated with the volcanic plume (visible emanations) continues to register high values in line with the eruptive process, reaching values of 2,882 tons per day (underestimated value), a value considerably lower than in previous days. The diffuse emission of carbon dioxide associated with the 220 km2 of the Cumbre Vieja ridge has been re-measured, reaching 1,224 tons per day.
Regarding air quality, during the early hours and early hours of yesterday morning high levels of SO2 were measured that did not exceed the hourly values in Los Llanos, El Paso, Tazacorte and Puntagorda, and these values were reduced gradually to low values, ascending again at the Puntagorda and Fuencaliente stations last night until reaching values close to the hourly threshold.
Regarding PM10 particles, yesterday morning an event of high concentration was registered in Los Llanos, reaching 242 micrograms / m3 at 10:00, which later was remitting but finally meant that the daily threshold was exceeded, established at 50 micrograms. / m3. In the set of stations, PM10 concentrations have been increasing, coinciding with the entry of the Saharan air mass.
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