Monday, August 15, 2005

Volcanic activity in the Canary Islands

Teide volcano, Tenerife Spanish scientists monitoring volcanic activity in the Canary Islands have registered a definite increase in the number of seismic tremors registered in Tenerife over the past year. The location of the tremors, in the north-east of the Island, reveal that the volcanic behaviour has changed, although the scientists say it is too soon to say exactly how.

The volcanologists, speaking in a UIMP University Summer course on natural risks, said that unlike other kinds of natural disasters, volcanoes always give ample warning before an eruption. But the main problem they face in trying to work out exactly what the changes in Tenerife mean, is that in order to make accurate predictions, you need to be able to compare activity with records extending over a period of hundreds of years. And activity in the Teide volcano began to be monitored only 500 years ago "just one breath in the life of a volcano", according to the scientists.

Alicia Felpeto, volcanologist of the Jaume Almera Earth Science Institute said she believed she would see at least one volcano eruption in the Canary Islands during her lifetime.

Teneguia, La Palma The last time a volcano erupted in the Canary Islands was in 1971 when TeneguĂ­a erupted on the island La Palma. It was a very calm eruption which spread over two months with no major explosions involved.

As far as Tenerife is concerned, statistics show that the Island registers an eruption in one of its volcanoes once every hundred years. The biggest volcano in Tenerife, El Teide, has not erupted for 1,250 years.

The rise in seismic activity over the past year or so has led local authorities to make improvements to the systems of volcano surveillance on the Island. More advanced instruments will help scientists to understand better what the recent changes may mean.
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posted by Euroresidentes at 8:51 AM

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4 Comments:

Blogger Pamela said...

Can I just mention a correction?

The location of the tremors the "noroeste" (in the original EFE report), is in fact the north WEST of the island, not the north east. I know that "o" traps me too sometimes.

It is only because I am proably no more than 10 miles from that exact point that, you could say, I take a rather active interest.

11:39 AM  
Anonymous Euroresidentes said...

Whoops!! You're right - noroeste es one of those niggly false friends. It should read north west. Thanks for pointing it out Pamela :)

7:32 PM  
Anonymous Euroresidentes said...

Incidentally, while we are delighted (and honoured) to be quoted by other websites, could Fuerteaventuranews please quote the source of their news stories, especially if (as in this case) they copy them word for word: http://www.fuerteventuranews.com/index.php?action=leer&tabla=news&id=140

7:37 PM  
Blogger nigwith said...

I have just read with interest this exchange. Could someone please tell me whether this might be connected with the predicted iminent landslip of approx 25k in n/south length on West (or 'oeste'!) side of the islands causing massive tsunami impacting on East seabord of USA. I'd be really interested in any comment and/or direction to a w.site containing such info.

1:44 AM  

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