El Hierro

[jand]

Avcan have mentioned this eartquake on their FB page and there is a lot of discussion on this.

Someone has mentioned about dead shrimp one one of Fuerteventuras beaches but I cant say if this true its only what I have read.

[fifi]

I dont know Surfjames. I think the tremors that are being picked up are the ones from El Hierro because there are so many discussions about the bulges on their graphs. This is the latest about the tremors which has come online.

The increase in tremor, coupled with the increased emission of CO2 from the volcano and the increase of earthquakes of varying magnitude between -19 last midnight and 9.07 of today, form a clear picture: rash. The problem is that locating the source of tremor is complicated, as opposed to an earthquake that is a single point. So scientists do not know if it is  a reactivation of the eruption which already appeared under the sea off La Restinga in October, if it is a new fissure in the north, opposite the town of Frontera, or even the two foci are aligned and belong to the same fracture. What is clear is that after the first eruption stopped and lowered earthquake tremor, but in the last week have reproduced the same signs that occurred in El Hierro before the first eruption. Volcanic crisis is not over. El Pais (Translated)

[fifi]

Members of the State Committee for the Coordination of Volcanic Risk have been put on pre alert so that they will have to be available at any time to go to meetings. The State Committee is composed of representatives of the Department of Infrastructure and Monitoring for Crisis Situations Prime Minister, the Directorate General for Defence Policy and Military Emergency Unit of the Ministry of Defense, the General Directorate of Police and the Guardia Civil and Traffic Department of the Interior Ministry.http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111103/ministerio-del-interior-alerta-comite-riesgo-volcanico-situacion-hierro/472999.shtml

[fifi]

quote:Originally posted by jand

Avcan have mentioned this eartquake on their FB page and there is a lot of discussion on this.

Someone has mentioned about dead shrimp one one of Fuerteventuras beaches but I cant say if this true its only what I have read.

A little more about that here.... (Translated)

      9 minutes ago
        Since  the winds are a couple of days to be predominantly from the west and West-southwest (O and OSO) would not be unusual for some debris could reach sulfurous odor south of Gran Canaria. Fuerteventura has had to get something ...... they have appeared in the south of the island on the beach several tons of shrimp Tarajalejo dead, and this has not happened, at least in the last 80 or 100 years. Coincidence? Or causality?

[jand]

Fifi

Do you know anything about the dead woman who has been airlifted from the sea in El Hierro.

At the moment there are no comments on how she died.

[fifi]

It gets a mention in the Paper.http://www.lavanguardia.com/sucesos/20111103/54237480544/hallado-el-cuerpo-sin-vida-de-una-mujer-en-aguas-de-el-hierro.html

[fifi]

Fissures confirmed in the North of the Island now and material rising to the surface.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biav5ESZdOU&sns=em

[jand]

Update 03/11 – 19:30 UTC :
 Raymond Matabosch, The French volcano follower (see separate article) told us that he will spend the night in a tent at the El Julan heights, which have a great view on the Las Calmas sea. Raymond is convinced that, if the current harmonic tremor /seismic activity continues, a Surtseyan eruption will occur within the next few hours or days, and he does not want to miss such an event.
 - 96 species of fish have been affected by the  eruption. There are no signs of any marine life within a radius of 1.5 km from the eruptive mouth.  In an extended radius of 3 miles, there is almost no marine life perceivable until a depth of 200 meter. Below 700 meter depth and further than 1.5 mile from the eruption vent, marine life is not affected anymore. The results have been reported by Marine professor Alberto Brito from the University of La Laguna, Canary Islands.

[jand]

Translated from French wrote by Raymond Matabosch

The eruptive vent under marin of El Hierro, imminent appearance of the plume cyprissoïde.
Even if the authorities announced that the Jacuzzi was no longer in activity since October 27, 2011, simple misinformation based on a decrease in the harmonic tremor, it continued "to work" much more, of small gas geysers announcing stage 2 capelinhienne eruption, have, at the same time, appeared on the surface of the sea of Las Calmas since. As the harmonic tremor, the eruptive vent being of the most active, growing submarine Cone and spills basaltic causing a slight deflation of the soil, it is in the volcanic normalalité, moving to El Julan earthquakes and El Golfo, with hypocenters of depth approaching the kilometers 20/22, showing that magma moves and rushes towards the vent/crack eruptive active located within 2 kilometres off the coast of La Restinga and Puerto Naos.


Since 1 November, the top of the new submarine building falling within 70 metres of depth, phase 3 other eruption is activated and the appearance of the "cypressoïde" plume is imminent, a few hours to 24 hours by as much as the number, - more than a hundred a day-, and magnitude, - more than 30 a day between 2.8 and 3.9 - of earthquakes is rising, and that two new whirlpool type "Jacuzzi", similarly made their appearance in overhang of the eruptive underwater mouth. Logically, the authorities should take all the precautions and enact the evacuation, at least, of la Restinga if not that of any of the area below a Frontera-El Pinar line.


Notes.
(1) Yes, topographic measurements equipment, embarked on board su "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. Hardly understandable and..., large black spots, - normally basaltic panegyrics in pillow lava - and a blue spot, oddly geometric and especially without relief, are inappropriate and prohibited any interpretation under these thus hidden areas.
(2) The volcanic eruption of type capelinhien is a type of volcanic eruption characterised by the emission of a lava awash, sea or Lake, shallow. Contact lava and water generates a thermal shock that causes the vaporization of the water and the fragmentation of lava in explosions called "cypressoïdes" for the resemblance of the volcanic plumes with Cypress. Frederico Machado, Director of public works, assisted by João do Nascimento and surveyor Antonio Denis, had supported scientific research but cannot publish in scientific journals, patented exclusively reserved to the men of art, were only able to perpetuate the terminology. To the different, similar eruption of the volcano island Surtsey, in 1963, the British volcanologists did adopt the terminology "type surtseyen" over "type capelinhien.".
(3) "Faith uma erupção submarina devidamente observada, e documentada estudada, desde do início até ao fim", Victor Hugo Forjaz, Professor and Portuguese volcanologist.
(4) the new island or island of Gordo or island of the Holy Spirit.
(5) In the course of the night of 12-13 May 1958, an earthquake more powerful than the others, estimated above magnitude 5.5 on the open Richter and intensity scale VI/VII on the Mercalli Scale, shakes strongly the island of Faial, including the cities of Praia do Norte, Capelo and Norte Pequeno where of many houses collapse because of activity numerous faults which some show a 1.5 metre escarpment and an opening of two metres. This earthquake will do no victim because the preventive evacuation of 2,000 households in this sector of the island.
(6) The pahoehoe lava or ropy lava is a type of lava, usually basaltic, sometimes carbonatique, very poor in silica and very high temperature which gives it a very great fluidity. Its high plasticity model frequently surface in merge as more or less large parallel flanges, then giving it the appearance of a pile of string or an amoncèlement of cushions. The aa lava is a type of lava, usually basaltic, poor in silica and very high temperature, which gives it a great fluidity. However, its surface relatively solidifies

[cllrcollins]

Interesting video of a "jacuzzi in the sea" just off El Hierro.


http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/el-hierro-volcano-canary-islands-video-of-jacuzzi-formed-in-sea/

[jand]

03-11-2011... 20: 48 - Ministry of economy, finance and security


The direction of the PEVOLCA reminds that there is no risk for the population but that all civil protection resources are activated


Seismic events of border, which have intensified in recent days, corresponding to the scene of the submarine eruption of La Restinga, which began on 10 October.


Thus it has been reported Carmen Lopez, spokesman of the Scientific Committee of the Plan of Civil protection by volcanic risk (PEVOLCA) after the meeting of the Steering Committee. Lopez emphasized that high seismicity that has occurred, with magnitudes of 4.3 and 4.4. It has affected the magmatic eruptive process of La Restinga feedback mechanism, "generating a process of 'rectified diffusion', an injection of pressure in magma that increases its rate of emission and releases large amount of gas".


This phenomenon is that has been represented in the permanent-intermittent pulses of the tremor and new stains appeared on the surface of the Mar de las Calmas, they acquire a white color, with Brown of pyroclastic material, precisely because of the presence of gases.


Anyway, scientists not discarded completely to another Seismicity "smaller and smaller magnitude" that it is occurring 15 kilometers deep in the Earth's crust, in the area of the Gulf, could be derived in an underwater eruption, but not in imminent way.


This possible eruption would have similar characteristics to the South, but in much greater depth given the bathymetry of the ocean floor in the area. In any case, this would need to give other values than "at the moment do not occur". It should be noted that today the deformation of the ground has stabilised in the North, which had experienced some acceleration in recent days and is relaxing significantly in the South. This is added the decline of the seismicity and the stabilization of the signal of the tremor. Lopez wanted to point out that historically, in the Canary Islands, "have given two eruptions simultaneously".


Despite the alarm which has created this situation for the population, the director-general of security and emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, Juan Manuel Santana, emphasized "that the eruption of the South entails no risk to the population" and insisted that scientists are monitoring for 24 hours, and before the slightest variation in the current trend "have preactivados all the resources of civil protection".


stain on the calm sea

[SurfJames]

Some amazing pics of the burbuja here:

Update 03/11 – 23:45 UTC :
 Earthquakes are getting stronger again. Just recently at 23:06 a quake at 22 km depth measuring M 3.2 occurred NW of Frontera (the first one today above 3).

Update 03/11 – 22:53 UTC :
 The pictures below are courtesy of the Presidencia del Gobierno de Canarias
 These pictures have been taken out of a helicopter and are showing the November 3 jacuzzi (burbuja in Spanish). No green stain today but the grey muddy color is present. It looks to us that the new spot is at a bigger distance from the coast.

http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/25/el-hierro-canary-islands-spain-volcanic-risk-alert-increased-to-yellow/

[jand]

Update 03/11 – 22:50 UTC :
 We have been telling our readers a couple of times about a very interesting volcano discussion forum at jonfr.com. One of the people commenting on what is happening is Peter Cobbold.  As nobody knows exactly what is going on below the volcano or in the Las Calmas sea, we are all searching for the probable truth.  Let's give Peter a chance to unfold his jacuzzi theory.


Scientists are doing a difficult job and have not had the best equipment. At the start of the jacuzzi they only had one site recording tremor ( CHIE) so could not locate its source. Now with the additional stations – the ones where we are denied access- thay have an ability to locate the tremor source approximately, even in depth. From the brief view we had of the data from those other stations it was clear that the tremor was strongest in the south, and is probably not associated with the deep earthquakes under el Golfo.
 The frequencies that dominate the tremor on CHIE are around 1 to 5Hz as we can see from the yellow and red bands on the plot:
 http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=CHIE_2011-11-03&ver=s&estacion=CHIE&Anio=2011&Mes=11&Dia=03&tipo=2
 These frequencies are typical of hydrothermal tremor
 ( Review on tremor here: http://epic.awi.de/11598/1/Kon2003a.pdf  – section 4.3.)
 So I see the jacuzzi being a conduit of km scale that that fills with sea water which then boils and erupts periodically under steam pressure to cause the bursts of amplitude on the CHIE plot. The photos of the grey stain show a well defined periphery as if a jet of water has been pushed up in a geyser-like fashion, whereas a jet of gas would I think have a more diffuse, and bubbling, appearance. A few weeks back the jacuzzi was described as pulsing every 15 minutes. It would be useful to know if the gray stain expands periodically now, perhaps in time with the CHIE pulses.
 I offer these thoughts as an amateur.
 Peter

[jand]

http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=CHIE_2011-11-04&estacion=CHIE&Anio=2011&Mes=11&Dia=04

[jand]

Carl le Strange says:
 November 4, 2011 at 01:30

"What the hork, there is a very clear doppler shift.
 Look at the artifact at 1,2 that goes in very dark red, then look as it s falling down to about 0,75Hz.

One could calculate the speed of the motion away from CHIE with that one. At least roughly."

Roughly.

http://i41.tinypic.com/23kom7k.png

There has to be something else at play in that frequency shift. Using rough figures for the speed of sound in altered basalt and the Doppler equation, you get some... pretty fast movement. The only way I can conceive of the mechanics behind it is if it's a sputtering frothy mixture of steam, magma and water just before exit down at Bob. (location 1 in the plot).

Anything else is... well, waaay out there in conceivability.

Other possibilities are the resonating path or what ever is causing the dominant frequencies is constantly changing shape and that's what did it. If not... that's some pretty fast moving stuff.... probably mostly gas. I hope.

[jand]

http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=CHIE_2011-11-04&estacion=CHIE&Anio=2011&Mes=11&Dia=04

This is unusual have not seen this before gaps between the movements.

[fifi]

[SurfJames]

Hi Fifi,

This is a great photo and suggests again that a vent has opened in the North. Unless the tides and currents have caused the pollution to encircle the island. There appears to be a much darker area immediately above the La Calma vent, and similar dark area can be seen in the north.

Interesting about those shrimp being washed up on the sourthen coast of Fuerte. I wonder if they are linked in some way to the volcano?

Edit:  Opps...Just read that the dark green areas are shadows from clouds.[:I]

[SurfJames]

jand,

That red frequency has had a big increase in activity. Is something moving rapidly to the surface - such as gas or magma? Those gaps suggest a sudden drop in movement, until the pressure builds up and the moving substance finds a new vent - perhaps?

[fifi]

There are lots of emission points now Surfjames. The Cabildo confirmed four (on Twitter) and the TV broadcast yesterday when the Ramon Margalef came back confirmed that there was material being expelled from a fissure in the North. No more news on the tons of dead shrimp on the shores of Fuerteventura yet.

 The Tunnell is going to be closed again because they have agreed that it is unsafe.

[jand]

Let us hope that the volcano not explote´




The Professor of the University of Barcelona Sunday Gimeno insists that magma herreña eruption could be dangerous







VOTE THIS STORY






´Esperemos that the volcano not explote´


CIRA MOROTE MEDINA explosive or harmless, that is the question. The apparent discordance between the data provided by the Pevolca and the Professor of the University of Barcelona Sunday Gimeno on the dangerousness of the magma of El Hierro had yesterday its second chapter. "We hope that the volcano not denies them with a large explosive eruption," said the Catalan researcher, who told this newspaper that rather than defend the scientists from the CSIC, "most of the pyroclastic are volumétricamente rhyolite", i.e. one of magmatic material more explosives that exist.


Since then, if someone had access to the volcano in the mar de Las Calmas pyroclastic, these have been the volcanologists of CSIC Joan Martí and Ramón Ortiz, who have been integrated into the Pevolca from the beginning. Last Wednesday, Gimeno gave the chime with explosive consequences. His report makes it clear that it was the Town Hall of El Pinar that applied chemical analysis of samples, has been done for free, "because this is a sample collected in the context of national emergency", and the University of Barcelona is a public entity.


Also are all techniques used to obtain the data and the time that passed since the arrived materials, October 27, until they could emit conclusions, only two days later. The question becomes the scientist is why, if it is so immediate analysis, the Pevolca not made public their data until Wednesday, coinciding for his appearance in the media.


The fact that the analyzed material contains rhyolite confers a special explosive capacity, which has been consistently ruled out by the experts of the Pevolca. But that's not all. "The presence of differentiated in the pyroclastic material is highly significant, regardless of genetic interpretation that gives, provides clear evidence of an explosive potential much greater, hitherto not mentioned publicly by anyone, according to the follow-up that we have made the news in press, radio and national television", the report states the petrologist. And continues: "the inhomogeneous mixture of magma of very different compositions is a phenomenon widely described in the literature like the explosivity of a magma incrementador, and on many occasions as an eruption trigger".


The question is, at all times, there has been an eruption surtseyana, quiet, except when where magma touches the surface, when there is a column of steam, followed a few hours, one of ashes, the famous crest of gallo, both game has given. Thus, always according to Gimeno. "The analyzed material not presents the characteristics of an eruption type surtseyano, which is the stage repeatedly proposed by the Scientific Committee on follow-up, at least for more than one week in the first phase of the eruption", he explains.


The Professor of the University of Barcelona cannot escape to dedicate the final paragraph of his report to the way in which the herreña crisis is managing. "Do the effort to attract talent, in first place in the nearest local and national environment, giving priority to the description and knowledge on personal assumptions or small groups." "Because it is also obvious, working with urgency, used public funds and is played with the safety of persons and goods." This concludes.

[jand]

Apparently, the PEVOLCA will meet this afternoon to 6 pm with residents of the Restinga and tomorrow at the same time will do so in the Llanillos. Some reports suggest that these meetings could be direct between scientists and neighbours, or without the intermediation of political representatives. Since AVCAN we propose, if seem them appropriate that we discuss what questions they would like to ask the members of the PEVOLCA if they had that opportunity. Perhaps this will help for some of the people will be in attendance. Please, we ask you questions to propose to be concise and aimed to clarify the situation. It is an opportunity for neighbors, so that they can clear their doubts, by which we understand that there is no room for criticism, disqualifications, or speculation. Thank you for your collaboration. (Fernando)

[jand]

Update 04/11 – 12:24 UTC :
 Joke Volta webcam report :
 - Good webcam news from El Golfo. Mr. Atilano living in Frontera will direct his webcam to El Golfo this afternoon.  Mr. Atilano is a geologist and has also a seat in the El Hierro council.  He is monitoring closely the deformation and gases of the Taganasoga mountain / hill, as many are seeing this area as a weak point on the island.
 - The Human Webcam of La Restinga is having a chat at El Pinar and did not left the island. Yesterday afternoon she packed her belongings and wanted to fly to the mainland.
 - The Tourist service of El Pinar wants to help with the installment of such a  a webcam with a view to Las Calmas. They have already a spot with internet connection who would suit the purpose. Only they have no money themselves to buy the equipment. Such a decision takes time (and not only in Spain

[SurfJames]

Thanks fifi,

So they have confirmed 4 vents......that's amazing as I thought it was only 2 in the south.

jand. Do you have a link to the webcam in El Golfo?

Also, are folk still able to visit the island?

[jand]

Very Important Update 04/11 – 13:37 UTC :
 Joke Volta reports from La Restinga :
 – we just went from El Pinar to La Restinga
 - a very sulfurous 'rotten egg' odor was noticed on parts of the road
 - the viewpoint towards the Las Calmas sea is showing multiple Jacuzzi spots close to the island
 - Joke took some pictures, but she is not sure whether it can be see on the pictures (she works with a cheap camera)
 - she is now heading back to El Pinar and will send the images shortly
 - it is clear to earthquake-report.com that, as Raymond told us yesterday night, we have entered a new phase in the El Hierro volcano activity

[SurfJames]

Very Important Update 04/11 – 13:37 UTC :
 Joke Volta reports from La Restinga :
 – we just went from El Pinar to La Restinga
 - a very sulfurous 'rotten egg' odor was noticed on parts of the road
 - the viewpoint towards the Las Calmas sea is showing multiple Jacuzzi spots close to the island
 - Joke took some pictures, but she is not sure whether it can be see on the pictures (she works with a cheap camera)
 - she is now heading back to El Pinar and will send the images shortly
 - it is clear to earthquake-report.com that, as Raymond told us yesterday night, we have entered a new phase in the El Hierro volcano activity

That rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulphide - H2S. It is extremely poisonous to plants and animals.

It looks like this thing is building.

Hi jand...you just beat me to it! []

[jand]

SurfJames

Cant seem to find the link to the webcam yet but will post it as soon as I find it.

Do you know what that bad smell could be on my previous post .

Do you think now this may be worrying health wise for the people on El Hierro.

[kevin2003]

quote:Originally posted by SurfJames


Also, are folk still able to visit the island?

All Binter and Fred Olsen connections are operating normally.

[jand]

And you have already answered my question about the smell[][]

[SurfJames]

Hi jand,

In the intial phases of an erruption, you get a lot of sulphur being expelled from the vents, and being hot, this will react to produce two gases - Sulphur dioxide and Hydrogen Sulphide. Both these gases are natural pollutants, and both damaging to the environment. Sulphur dioxide will dissolve in water to produce sulphuric acid...hence acid rain, and will change the pH of the sea water which kills fish and aquatic plants. Hydrogen Sulphide is extremely poisonous and we are sensitive to a tiny tiny concentration in the air. Just a few molecules in the air are sufficient to produce a sickening smell of rotten eggs, when they enter your nose (Natures way of protecting our body). The gass will be so dluted in the atmoshere, that it will pose no danger to humans. But, if you happened to be near a vent and became engulfed in the gass - I reckon your chances of survival to be small.

The danger to the population will come from a violent eruption, such as that seen at surtsey, but the authorities seem pretty relaxed about it, so I guess it won't happen.