El Hierro

[fifi]

quote:Originally posted by SurfJames

If the cone is getting bigger again, and I understand that it needs to get considerably wider in order to get higher, does anyone know how far it is from the surface of the water now?

Once it gets close to the surface, then the activity will change as explosions will force rocks etc into the air. When it's above the surface, then I guess we will see lava pouring back down to the water again.

Have measurements been made as to it's height at the moment?

The last article I read said that there was another 70 metres to go before it reached the surface. I didnt see any further updates on that yet although it was mapped again by the Ramon Margalef.

       ............


Pity El Hierro dont have a webcam like that jand.

                   .............



Beautiful photo taken last night.[]

[jand]

Yes its a pity about the webcam IMO Telefonica must be the laughing stock of the whole wide world who are watching El Hierro.

Infact IMO dont think the Spanish goverment full stop are doing themselves any favours in the way they are handling the whole situation at the moment in El Hierro.

I keep seeing comments of how the Canary Islands are liked to  a third world country!!!

[jand]

And another one errupting in the Congo !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT0_JskP4zs&feature=player_embedded

[fifi]

quote:Originally posted by tamara_k

sorry, guys, I know it's a serious topic, but I found this bit funny


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The cats on the Island are behaving strangely and are eating dead fish http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/13/underwater-volcano-el-hierro-canary-islands_n_1091252.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Do cats not normally eat dead fish?
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(reminds me of old courtroom joke - Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? - All my autopsies were performed on dead people)

Cats eat dead fish. I am surprised that somebody questions that. In fact, when they eat fish (and most of them love fish), it is mostly dead, sometimes raw, sometimes cooked.

Unless they steal fresh fisherman's catch or go fishing in a fishtank themselves or course

...................

It cracked me up too and thats why I posted it Tamara.[]

[fifi]

Report on the latest mapping of the Volcano by the Ramon Margalef including scanned  images.  http://www.ieo.es/apartar/ieoprensa/hierro/131111.pdf

Photos of various emission points today.







There is some concern over the bubbling in this area.

[tamara_k]

It's funny how we start puzzling over perfectly normal things like breaking waves, tides, red sunsets and surf noises (or indeed cats eating fish) when we are stressed. No wonder though - whole island must feel at mercy of nature for over a month now.

BTW, anybody know of maybe a charity organization dedicated to helping people of el hierro to live through the crisis? I would like to donate, if there's one

[fifi]

I will ask AVCAN for you Tamara.

           ..............
[/URL]


The volcano remains in place... but  the background has changed a little bit...
It has fallen and now we have 2 lava flows...(AVCAN)

[tamara_k]

thanks, fifi!

[fifi]

No reply yet but a few of the residents like the idea.

There is another emission point at the moment for anyone watching the webcam. It is just at the horizon.

[falkirkdan]

quote:Originally posted by tamara_k

It's funny how we start puzzling over perfectly normal things like breaking waves, tides, red sunsets and surf noises (or indeed cats eating fish) when we are stressed. No wonder though - whole island must feel at mercy of nature for over a month now.

BTW, anybody know of maybe a charity organization dedicated to helping people of el hierro to live through the crisis? I would like to donate, if there's one

Having looked at Google and the pics on there of El Hierro it does not look the poorest of communities.    So I am sure that they have a fair bit stashed away and then they can always ask for more money from the EU looks like shed loads have been spent there.    If they have to be evacuated lots and lots and lots of empty property in Fuerty that can be taken over.

Do not think they need a crisis fund.   If they get one can Scotland also get one to help with our struggle in the current economy crisis.[}:)]

[tamara_k]

er... maybe let's not go into the whole "why do you have charity for this, money are better spent over there" in this thread? It's a potentially minefield discussion

(suddenly remembered oddly appropriate a "money for scouts" vs "money for scots" confusion in the Vicar of Dibley, but can't find it on youtube, alas)

[woe10]

quote:Originally posted by falkirkdan

quote:Originally posted by tamara_k

It's funny how we start puzzling over perfectly normal things like breaking waves, tides, red sunsets and surf noises (or indeed cats eating fish) when we are stressed. No wonder though - whole island must feel at mercy of nature for over a month now.

BTW, anybody know of maybe a charity organization dedicated to helping people of el hierro to live through the crisis? I would like to donate, if there's one

Having looked at Google and the pics on there of El Hierro it does not look the poorest of communities.    So I am sure that they have a fair bit stashed away and then they can always ask for more money from the EU looks like shed loads have been spent there.    If they have to be evacuated lots and lots and lots of empty property in Fuerty that can be taken over.

Do not think they need a crisis fund.   If they get one can Scotland also get one to help with our struggle in the current economy crisis.[}:)]

I´m with you on this one Dan. I don´t think the people in El Hierro are in a "Disaster" Zone just jet. Most probably never.

[jand]

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/

This part three of a report in a german newspaper you can view the above link for part 1 and 2.

Translated.

"We are experiencing an ecological disaster"

The researchers understand the euphoria of the geologists and volcanologists in view of the outbreak, but does not share it. "We are experiencing an ecological disaster for biodiversity, which is worse than the Mar de las Calma was 1996 declared a marine reserve carried an exemplary model of sustainability."


Enlarge image
The sea front of la restinga, a fishing village on the southern tip of the island of El Hierro. (© dpa)


Thus, the undersea volcanic eruption has consequences for the people. "The 600 residents of la restinga have of the and lived with the sea", says Fernando Gutierrez, of the local fishing association. 40 Families of fishermen, nine diving schools, restaurant owners and apartment for rent, standing by one the other day before nowhere are affected.


How long it will take to the sea reserve recovers? "The Brown Grouper for example spends his life on the surface the size of a soccer field and grows a kilogram in the year." "There is again a 10 kg heavy Brown grouper in ten years, so at the earliest", says Alberto Brito.



Display


Everything, so the marine biologist, depends how long the eruption still persists. And above all of it, whether there is a further outbreak in the North of the island. "Still serves the North as a reserve, from which the South could be inhabited again with life."


To the North, on the coast of la Frontera, is also the attention of researchers. Every day the Earth trembles there, the so far strongest earthquake took place on the night of Saturday, reaching a strength of 4.6 on the Richter scale. "The earthquake caused therefore, magma such as a hammer against the Earth's crust insists and is looking for an opening", says David Calvo. "This can be a sign of an imminent eruption."


Maria José Blanco considers possible erupting to the North. "The seabed falls away there quickly at up to 1500 meters, which is why the effects of lower could be as in the South."


Scientists know that volcanic eruptions for the Canary Islands are normal. "All the Islands here arose as", Blanco says. And David Calvo makes it clear: "the process started 20 million years ago, in the next million years more Islands will arise in this way."


Whether the volcano before la restinga rises as many inhabitants of El Hierro want it, to win a new tourist attraction, and how long the outbreak still takes from the sea, dares to predict nobody. The longest breakout in the Canary Islands took six years and created a large part of Lanzarote between 1730 and 1736.

[jand]

http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=EGOM_2011-11-15&estacion=EGOM&Anio=2011&Mes=11&Dia=15

Have not seen this before ?

[jand]

Update 15/11 – 13:03 UTC :
 The satellite company RapidEye has uploaded a new HD-satellite image taken on November 13. The November 13 picture is not disclosing a lot of additional details. NO brown or dark grey stains above vents as seen in the older images. The many different grey stain areas are shadows from the clouds above.  The only place where we suspect that it is a vent is the white patch in front of La Restinga. We once again want to send our congratulations to the RapidEye company in offering these images to the many interested readers in the world (also thanks to  Antonio Silva in telling us that the image was published)

http://www.rapideye.de/images/flood/2011-11-13_RE1_ElHierro.jpg

[jand]

Data Update 15/11 – 13:24 UTC :
 - since midnight UTC 14 earthquakes greater than M 1.5 occurred at El Hierro.
 - except one, all of the earthquakes occurred NW of Frontera
 - the depth of the hypocenter was ranging from 16 km (shallowest) to 25 (deepest)
 - the strongest earthquake happened at 08:52, had an epicenter in the El Golfo bay close to the beach and had a magnitude of 3.4
 - harmonic tremor is still very strong and gets even stronger as IGN had to scale down the amplitude tremor in the hourly graph.

[jand]

http://www.01.ign.es/ign/resources/volcanologia/html/deformacion.html

One persons comments on the above link.

This looks pretty interesting to me. Hierro's HI01 deformation sensor is reading some crazy stuff. A week and a half ago the sensor was reading at -9mm, then it jumped to 10mm in one day, that's a 19mm jump. Over the next week or so up until today, the area has moved another 39mm or so. It has now come to rest as of yesterday at 2mm above normal. This will be something to watch!

[jand]

Something right out of harbour in Restinga

Reply


Lurking says:

 November 15, 2011 at 17:57


I do believe that is a line of bubbles.... that seem to be staying in one spot.

Not a good place to have something develop... right in the middle of the channel to your breakwater.

Reply

[jand]

Can anyone else also see steam rising ?

[jand]

Update 15/11 – 17:13 – La Restinga Webcam saga (continued)
 - To the Cabildo of El Hierro, Telefonica and Movistar
On behalf of our (complaining) readers : Please change the "Erupción webcamera" with an High Definition Web camera, which is installed on a stable mast, house, etc. The current image is useless as we cannot see details and as the camera vibrates too much. We almost get seasick looking at the image!
If Telefonica and Movistar (both multi-billion companies) are standing for Quality (what we believe they do), changing the current webcam and installing it onto a stable mast can't be that difficult.

[jand]

Avcan

http://www.01.ign.es/ign/layoutIn/geofisicaCuesmaCuesmaTerremotos.do

another more than 3.2 in the Gulf area, the third of the day above the magnitude 3, if what you have sense, remember to fill in the questionnaire of the IGN, is very important (Henry).
1112699 15/11/2011 18: 00: 59 27.7989 - 18.0540 21 3.2 4 NW FRONTIER.IHI

[fifi]

The volcano greeted the neighbors that have returned to live at La Restinga by launching  solid material (technically called pyroclastics) of more than one meter in length, "visible throughout the island" reports IGN and PEVLOCA.

 Many residents could see the phenomenon. It is estimated that more than half of the 600 inhabitants of the enclave will not return as fishing and diving are prohibited), the town has never been entirely uninhabited. Even in the worst times there has been  IGN and security forces staying at night.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/volcan/Hierro/lanza/material/metro/largo/elpepusoc/20111115elpepusoc_9/Tes

[jand]

Sondebueu says:

 November 15, 2011 at 20:31


From IEO pdf of 15/11/2011
 http://www.ieo.es/apartar/ieoprensa/hierro/131111.pdf

1st, position of volcano, unchanged..
 27¨¬37¡¯6.30¡È
 -17¨¬59¡¯30.0¡È
 2.400m from Retinga harbour.
 But underwater, a lot of changes¡¦
 Must read PDF and see images:
 http://oi41.tinypic.com/2rddkrs.gif

Volcano crater is at 160m underwater:
 http://i41.tinypic.com/33usaza.jpg

with 5m or error¡¦

[SurfJames]

Wow  -is that right Fifi.  Pyroclasts of a metre in length and visible throughout the island? Does this mean that the rocks are getting launched into the air now?

Also, it's really interesting looking at those seabed pics. I thought the other day, that the background had changed. The bed definitely looks like it has sunk, and the original vent looks closed. But the amount of lava is building up next to the original vent. This would explain the sudden stopping of the jacuzzi, and the steady increase in activity on the sea surface.  A new cone is building, which will fuse with the first. The resulting structure will be able to support a taller funnel, and get nearer to the sea surface, then we will see real fireworks!

I too saw those bubbles near the harbour wall a few days ago, but wasn't sure if they were infact, just white horses. What do you think? Is there going to be a new vent very close to the shore?

[Paddster]

In all seriousness,i would donate too.....Just post it ere if there ends up being one....[]

[fifi]

My mind boggles sometimes when I try and figure all of this out.

 10th October we had EL Mundo telling us that the volcano was erupting 150 metres under the water (the cone which was supposed to be 2400 metres from land)http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/graficos/oct/s2/radiografia_el_hierro.html

25th October The Ramon Margalef  mapped a volcano which they claimed was newly created  with a base diameter of 700 meters, a height of 100 meters and a crater about 120 meters wide. The base of the crater is located 300 meters deep. ......that would leave the crater at 200 metres under the water.

We also had Raymond Matabosch telling us this....

"Most people in El Hierro were happy to hear that the new crater was finally found and appear to be too happy with the birth of new baby"
But what are they talking about ! ... this crater has been around for decades and it is located 3/4 miles south-south-west of La Restinga and rises from a depth of more or less -370 meter.
The new crater is located 2 km from the south-west coast of El Hierro at a depth of 150 meters ... the water temperature is above 60°C and the Ramon Margalef can unfortunately NOT use his ROV in water at temperatures above 30°C (risk of destruction or important damage)

The volcano presented by the Ramon Margalef is not the new volcano. The other parts of the picture are not showing signs of an recent eruption ... In addition, the new vent culminates at a very shallow depth of 70 m. Contrary to what a lot of people and scientists are telling i have to stress that the Jacuzzi is still working. Also small geysers, stage 2 of an eruption surtseyenne, are appearing ...
I am here on the island and i can see this from my viewing point ...

3rd November Yes, topographic measurements equipment, embarked on board  "Ramon Margalef", allowed to map the seabed, off the coast of La Restinga, but the supposed cone training is a "seamount" already existing for decades, culminating in-300 metres deep, affected by a little result eruptive State. According the photographic documents disclosed by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, a second vent knows, similarly, a similar activity. To the different, the new Cone, hyper active, located within 2 km Puerto Naos, within 150 metres of depth, is not.(Translated)

2nd November we had the Cabildo telling us that there were four emission points.... PrensaElHierro Cabildo de El Hierro tweeted....
It was possible to distinguish three different emission zones in addition to the initial one.

Around 3rd November we had the TV footage of the Ramon Margalef returning with the news of a new area in the El Golfo area which was emitting Magma.

4th November we had three mouthsin Restinga and the one in EL Golfo doesnt get a mention  http://www.laprovincia.es/especiales/2011/11/04/cientificos-creen-haber-tres-bocas-eruptivas-hierro/413242.html


Now the reason I mention all of these is because when you look at all the eruptions in the different areas on the webcam they are all at different distances. The cone mapped by the Margalef looks sealed in the new digital terrain model.
 There is a shield with loads of cones on it running from the South and around the corner to the West of the Island for about 11 kilometres. Are the eruptions we are looking at coming from these other volcano cones which are all a different height or are they just fissures?

We were told by the papers that the eruptions become explosive once they reach 100 metres below the sea and so far we have only had one day where one of the areas was exploding like that.


Im confused.[]

[fifi]

quote:Originally posted by Paddster

In all seriousness,i would donate too.....Just post it ere if there ends up being one....[]

I will have a look later at Facebook and see if AVCAN have replied Paddster. I would donate too.

[fifi]

quote:Originally posted by SurfJames

Wow  -is that right Fifi.  Pyroclasts of a metre in length and visible throughout the island? Does this mean that the rocks are getting launched into the air now?

Also, it's really interesting looking at those seabed pics. I thought the other day, that the background had changed. The bed definitely looks like it has sunk, and the original vent looks closed. But the amount of lava is building up next to the original vent. This would explain the sudden stopping of the jacuzzi, and the steady increase in activity on the sea surface.  A new cone is building, which will fuse with the first. The resulting structure will be able to support a taller funnel, and get nearer to the sea surface, then we will see real fireworks!

I too saw those bubbles near the harbour wall a few days ago, but wasn't sure if they were infact, just white horses. What do you think? Is there going to be a new vent very close to the shore?

My mind is still boggled.[] Its erupting all over the place isnt it? Guess we will have to turn on our webcams tomorrow to find out.[]


You can see some of the cones here that I was wondering about...and also this time 1 Kilometre is mentioned. (Smithsonian)

[jand]

http://www.ieo.es/apartar/ieoprensa/hierro/261011.pdf

Maps and graphs text will need translating into English.

[jand]

Fifi

A lot of people watching El Hierro are confused as to what is actually happening in El Hierro.

Some on the jonfr.com/volcano blog are still discussing the cave system under El Hierro (they refer to El Hierro as Swiss Cheese ) as it has so many holes under it.

http://www.vulcanospeleology.org/sym06/ISV6x31.pdf

Quote

And yes, most of them are tubes. There are a few subsea ones that show up in the diving literature and a lot of references to dives sites with "caves nearby." In fact, I think one of the systems is near where Bob showed up.

http://mariamathamelpinturas.blogspot.com/2011/11/la-cueva-de-don-justo.html

Quote

Ya know, MRK has some valid concerns about the swiss cheese island of El Hierro.

Does anyone know if any monitoring of the different cave/tunnel systems has been done?

Hell, even someone from the local fire department could go do a test on one or two caves, while they may not have the full ensemble of probes for the different gases, I know they at least have equipment for CO detection. We always had to test the air from our cascade system before filling air bottles.

http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/medioambiente/centrodocumentacion/publicaciones/revista/2002/23/283/mapa.jpg