SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 9th May (EUROPA PRESS) –
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) and the Environment Area of the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energy (ITER), in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid, has found that the ‘Tajogaite’ volcano on La Palma, which erupted in September 2021, contained more magma than initially thought, reaching depths of almost 40 kilometers.
The researchers analysed 509 teleseisms recorded by the Canarian Seismic Network on La Palma between 2017 and 2021 to meticulously study the structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the volcano up to a depth of 50 kilometers.
By employing receiver functions, they were able to determine the speed of seismic waves at depth and identify the various geological layers that make up this volcano, as highlighted by Involcan in a statement.
The key finding of the study was the identification of an area, characterised by a significantly low speed of seismic waves, situated between 13 and 38 kilometers deep, indicating the presence of magma.
“This discovery adds a crucial element to the geological understanding of the Canary Islands and will aid in better interpreting the precursors of potential volcanic eruptions,” noted officials from Involcan.
The research, led by Víctor Ortega Ramos who is conducting his doctoral thesis at Involcan, was made possible through the VOLRISKMAC II projects, co-funded by the INTERREG MAC 2014-2020 Programme and ‘Strengthening R&D&I activities for the reduction of volcanic risk on La Palma’, supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The study has been published in the journal ‘Geophysical Research Letters’.
