+++EL HIERRO VOLCANO+++NEWS FROM SPANISH SOURCES+++

Canary Islands Webcams

[link to personal.telefonica.terra.es]

The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Africa in a position that is approximately 60 miles west of Morocco.

There are seven larger islands in the Canary Islands: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomer and Hierro along with a few very small ones: Alegranza, Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Lobos.

Although located within a very short distance of each other, all the islands are radically different in terms of landscape and culture.

[link to el-hierro.costasur.com]

The population of the Canary Islands is 1.6 million people. Together, the Canary Islands encompass an area of 3,000 square miles. Major cities include Las Palmas on Gran Canaria island and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (on Tenerife Island).

El Hierro is the smallest of the 7 larger Canary Islands and is located in the extreme southwest of the group - the 'edge of the ancient world'. It’s only 287 square metres in total and has an altitude of 1,501 metres.

[link to www.google.com]

The Canary Islands also known as the "islands of Dogs" are named after the large dogs (Canes) that were initially found living on the islands.

The Greeks and Romans called them the "Happy Islands" and the "Garden of Hesperides, Atlantida". Some historians believe that the islands" original population (Guanches) are from the legendary continent of Atlantis. Curiously, they are tall with white skin...

The Canary Islands became part of the Spanish kingdom in 1496. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his way to discover the "new world".

The islands belong to Spain although they are not part of the European Union.

[link to canaryislands.costasur.com]

Canary Islands - Volcanic Monitoring

[link to www.ign.es]

Look for: 'Estación El Hierro - CHIE'

Details about El Hierro Volcano and its past are given here:

[link to www.volcanolive.com]

Earthquake activity below El Hierro (volcano), Canary Islands, Spain – Update 07/09 [September 7, 2011]

Tremor has continued at El Hierro since the start of seismicity in July. Between the 30th August and 3rd September seismic events were high at ~200 to 250 a day. However, since then there have been less than 100 events a day. GPS stations are now in place around the volcano.

There is an interesting graphic at this link that does a good job of illustrating the huge frequency of seismic activity that is occurring at El Hierro volcano.

[link to earthquake-report.com]

Canary Islands Government Relocate Entire Population of [El Hierro] Island Close to Cumbre Vieja

Pevolca The Scientific Committee, met this morning [Sept. 2, 2011] at the request of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Security of the Canary Islands Government, decided to relocate the [entire] population of El Hierro [Island].

[link to standeyo.com]

Cumbre Vieja Volcano -- Potential collapse and tsunami at La Palma, Canary Islands

Geological evidence suggests that during a future eruption, Cumbre Vieja Volcano on the Island of La Palma may experience a catastrophic failure of its west flank, dropping 150 to 500 km3 of rock into the sea. Using a geologically reasonable estimate of landslide motion, we model tsunami waves produced by such a collapse. Waves generated by the run-out of a 500 km3 (150 km3) slide block at 100 m/s could transit the entire Atlantic Basin and arrive on the coasts of the Americas with 10-25 meters height.

Do not miss looking at Figure 4 in this article.

This figure is made up of nine panels that each illustrate the phases involved in how a collapse of the western flank of the El Hierro volcano could lead to a mammoth tsunami that could have a devastating impact on the eastern coasts of the Americas.

Quote: "After crossing the Atlantic, a lateral collapse of Cumbre Vieja volcano could impose a great sequence of waves of 10-25 meters [32-82 feet!] height on the shores of the Americas."

[link to standeyo.com]

Last Edited by Biochemky on 09/24/2011 07:44 PM

Thanks for the link.

Here's a direct link to the seismograph for: 'Estación El Hierro - CHIE'

[link to www.ign.es]

Thank you for posting the info. and links! I live on the East Coast, only 5 miles inland, so I'm try to follow this. The mega-tsunami doom scenario seems like it has the most potential, and that scares the bejesus outta me...

OP you need to change your title so people KNOW that a huge volcanic eruption with a potentiall devastating tsunami on the east coast of the Americas could be imminent.

Here is what I would use as a title:

***BREAKING***El Hierro Volcano (Canary Islands): Eruption with U.S. Tsunami Possibly Imminent - Higher Alert Causing Evacuations

Thread: Best El Hierro Thread On GLP - Canary Islands - ACTIVITY HAS RETURNED - AGAIN!

While I think a flank collapse is unlikely, I do wonder if an eruption would spook the tourists... a fair percentage of them probably don't even know that the Canaries are volcanic.

Tourism doom!

For more info

Under the advice of the "Pevolca" Scientific Committee, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Security of the Canary Islands Government called for the evacuation of the entire population of El Hierro Island off of the island where the El Hierro volcano is located.

[link to standeyo.com]

They did this back on Sept. 2nd when El Hierro Island was still in pre-alert status, meaning they did this BEFORE raising the volcanic eruption alert level to yellow.

There are only three levels, green - yellow - red, so this is the middle level.

They show the pamphlet that people on El Hierro Island were given concerning the alert status in the video linked below.



Last Edited by Biochemky on 09/24/2011 08:04 PM

this is weird. these quakes are DESCENDING, not rising. Check out Lurking's plot of Mag v Time v Depth..

[link to i53.tinypic.com]

this is what he had to say about it on Jon's blog..

''Lurking says:
September 25, 2011 at 00:13

Okay, what in the flying @#$@#$ is El Hierro doing?

Any takers? Carl? Jack? Jon?

[link to i53.tinypic.com]

Reply

*
Lurking says:
September 25, 2011 at 00:17

Note, that’s depth v time v mag. The top label on the plot is incorrect (depth v depth v mag). Deepening quakes seem a bit odd.

No, I don’t think the island is sinking.''

[link to www.jonfr.com]

Finally our main newspaper (El Pais) gives some attention to the situation in El Hierro.
==========================================================

El Hierro is preparing for a possible volcanic eruption

Canary raised the alert level to the proliferation of ever-increasing earthquakes .- Last night, a 3.4 earthquake struck the island


The island of El Hierro has suffered a total of 48 earthquakes just this weekend. The latest was last night when, around eleven in the NCOH movement was a magnitude 3.4 that could be felt throughout the island. In this sense, there is concern about the possibility of a volcanic eruption on the island of Meridian, which has forced the government of the Canary Islands, to increase the traffic lights at yellow alert volcanological for the first time in recent history of the archipelago.

The council's security adviser Hierro, Maria del Carmen Morales, has asked neighbors and tranquility "These earthquakes are normal as we are with the yellow light and have never experienced a similar crisis." Also from the council ensures that there will be new earthquakes in the coming days given that the magma is active at a depth of 15 kilometers.

Yet the security council responsible Hierro says that the chances of an eruption are still remote, around 15% so there is no cause for alarm. In the same vein, regional government spokesman, Martin Marrero, said that "today, what is left is to keep quiet. We guarantee preventive effects of the expanded network to detect these movements and also the best state experts are monitoring the situation, which is controlled and dictated what the experts say, it will henceforth apply the protocol. "

However, the Canarian Government has established a security protocol in the event that triggered the eruption. For the time being made presentations to the population of the island for a possible evacuation. "The eruption let us know ahead of time so we would have enough time to evacuate people and move to a safe place," the council's security responsibilities, Maria del Carmen Morales.

Volcanic crisis in the island of El Hierro, is being watched closely by the National Geographic Institute. Volcanology expert and member of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Juan Carlos Carracedo, said it is too early to make a diagnosis and calm that should prevail among the population. "If there was a volcanic eruption in El Hierro now or at any period would not be surprising because the island is the youngest to be a bag of magma rising to the surface parking on a boundary of the cortex and produces a series of breaks generating seismicity and that is what is occurring around 15 km in the vertical of El Hierro. We have no way of knowing what will happen because as the seismicity is still so deep that we can not know if that bag magma eventually breaking the crust and generate an eruption, "he said.

(Google Translated)

Recorded 48 earthquakes in El Hierro during the last two days

El Hierro awakens from its slumber


218 years after the last recorded eruption of volcanoes in El Hierro island have begun to awaken from its slumber. This is a series of indicators suggest that usually precede volcanic eruptions, and are manifested in the island increasingly Meridian strength and intensity.

It all began on July 19. From that date the seismographs of the National Geographic Institute (IGN) began to record seismic activity "abnormal" in Iron. At first he was not given much importance. But increasing the frequency of shocks and to increasing intensity on the Richter scale have led scientists to ponder the possibility of an early volcanic eruption. Only two months between July 19 and yesterday, there have been 7852 instead of the usual earthquakes in El Hierro are ten or twelve a year. In addition, the latter have come to achieve the three on the Richter scale, to be felt first among the population.


The phenomenon, which is associated with a process of magma intrusion at a depth of 12 kilometers below the surface of the island, did not come alone. In recent days there has been a small rise of ground, between 20 and 25 millimeters, which is another indicator prior to a volcanic eruption. With respect to increased greenhouse gas emissions, which is a third factor to take into account CO2 levels remain for now but are being monitored closely, says the Director General of Security and Emergency Government Canary Islands, Juan Manuel Santana.


Since the regional government has recognized "the existence of likelihood of a volcanic eruption," which estimated at 10%. One thing that matches the scientific coordinator of the Institute of the Canary Islands volcanological (non-tip), Nemesio Perez, who says that the probability "although small, is significant." "For now we have an anomalous seismic activity, a record of ground deformation also significant, but we should have higher emission levels and other observable to increase the likelihood that this process ends in an eruptive phenomenon. For now, the probability is small, but significant, "says Perez.


In any case, to avoid risks, the Canary Islands Government has already changed the seismic hazard lights from green to yellow, which brings it into pre-alert status and greater control.

[link to www.canarias7.es]

Significant previous eruptions:

1971 - La Palma Island - Volcán de Teneguía


1949 - La Palma Island - Volcanes Hoyo Negro, Duraznero, Llano del Banco

'last night the Emergency Coordination Center received a score of calls from El Hierro to express concern about the quakes.

...authorities are alert to signs before a volcanic eruption, such as "increasing magnitude earthquake or amount of carbon dioxide in the air"

www.canariasaldia.com

The National Geographic Institute counted 13 earthquakes this morning, between 00.00 and 2.55 pm in El Hierro, with intensities below 2.7 degrees.

[link to www.canarias7.es]



The seismic activity recorded on Saturday night caused unrest in the towns of Frontera and La Restinga, which took to the streets after an earthquake of 3.4 degrees.

The council reported that the population must remain calm in the unusual situation in El Hierro registered in recent months. He also noted that experts expressed, although the activity is itself the precursor to a possible volcanic eruption, the phenomenon is not imminent on the island due to the low probability of around 15%.

In this sense, advanced the possibility of increased seismic activity in the coming days, this is the prelude to a risk or a volcanic eruption.

[link to www.diariodenavarra.es]

Last Edited by Celtìbero on 09/26/2011 02:38 AM

IT HAS FINALY REACHED MAINSTREAM MEDIA

TODAY ON NEWS CHANNEL RTVE:

They highlighted the Earthquake swarm
saying 10.000 was on standby if evacuation is needed

ON TV THEY SAID 10.000 ON STAND BY FOR EVACUATION IF NEEDED

they no longer silence the news is out there

FROM SPAINS BIGGEST NEWSPAPER:

Authorities ask people to calm down after Earth quake swarm
in El hierro canary islands
The biggest earthquake was up to 3.4 this saturday

Authroiries say people have to remain calm
Spanish experts say that even if this earthquake swarm predict a volcano erruption the probability is only 15% for it to happen now.

Experts futher say is possible the seismic activity would increased in the coming days, but this dont mean it has to be a prelude to volcanic erruption with risk for the population

Since Saturday 48 earthquake has been registred on the Isle since Saturdya only acording Newspaper Elmundo

[link to www.elmundo.es]

When is in the Biggest Newspaper in spain then is Searious it would never made it there was it not searious.

The News is now Mainstream

"El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain) : volcanic risk alert increased to “yellow” – appeal to stay calm"

Sept. 26, 2011

There are TWO good graphics at the link below: one of the more than 700 volcanic earthquakes since last July and one of the depths of these earthquakes.

Update September 25,2011: El Cabildo de El Hierro sends a message of calm and security to the population.

The president of the Cabildo de El Hierro, Alpidio Armas, and the Minister of Security and Emergency Area, Maria del Carmen Morales, have appeared before the media on Sunday, September 25, to convey a message of calm and security to the population.

Main reason, the strongest earthquake so far (Magnitude 3.4 at a depth of 15 km).

We are convinced that the Government of the Canary Islands and the scientists of the committee would certainly report such information when a dangerous situation could not be excluded.

Is is far from sure that an eruption would occur, even with more tremors and the current deformation.

Main reason for the alert increase (to yellow from green) where the increasing number of volcanic earthquakes as well as deformations (up to 30 mm change from the beginning).

[link to earthquake-report.com]

This seem like a good source but has not been updated in a month
[link to earthquake-report.com]

Any better and searious source to keep updated?


MEGATSUNAMI CAN HIT USA EAST COAST

but isn’t this the island geologists predict could potentially wipe out the U.S. East Coast by tsunami when the west side of the island fractures off into the ocean? Apparently there’s a fault line, or fissure of some sort that’s expected to break if seismic or volcanic activity in the area is strong enough.

[link to ascendingstarseed.wordpress.com]

The following is the translated (from Spanish to English) text of the notice that is presently being displayed on official the El Hierro Emergency Information Website:

Sept. 25, 2011

NOTICE

Before the registered earthquake of degree 3,4, the one of more magnitude of the produced ones The Town hall of the Iron transmits a message of calm and security to the population.

The president of the Town hall of the Iron, Alpidio Arms, and the advisor of the Area of Seguridad and Emergencias, Maria of the Carmen Morals, has appeared before mass media in the morning of today Sunday, 25 of September, to transmit a message of calm and security to the population, after the last episode of seismic movements happened the past night, concretely to the 22 hours and 24 minutes, whose magnitude has been highest of the registered ones, 3,4 in the scale of Richter, being placed their epicenter in the zone of the Julan, and to a depth of 15 kilometers.

[link to www.emergenciaselhierro.org]

Landslides and the evolution of El Hierro in the Canary Islands

Gee, M.J.R., Watts, A.B., Masson, D.G. and Mitchell, N.C. (2001) Landslides and the evolution of El Hierro in the Canary Islands. Marine Geology, 177, (3/4), 271-293. (doi:10.1016/S0025-3227(01)00153-0)

Seismic and sonar data have been used to evaluate the extent and characteristics of giant landslides on the flanks of El Hierro in the Canary Islands.

As the youngest and most southwesterly of the Canary Islands, El Hierro has experienced rapid growth and destructive events in its 1.12 million year history.

At least four giant landslides (El Golfo, El Julan, San Andres, and Las Playas) have modified ~450 km3 of El Hierro during the last 200–300 thousand years, with each landslide event removing around 3% of the total edifice volume.

The extent of landsliding indicates that it is the main process of decay. We characterise flank morphology around El Hierro and distinguish between rugged, unfailed flank, failed flank and steep gullied ridge. Flanks affected by landsliding have downslope long profiles with distinctive b coefficients and exponential forms.

The El Golfo landslide is the most recent (15 ka), best described and clearly defined landslide in the Canary Islands.

The El Julan landslide [where the most recent swarm of quakes have occurred] (SW flank) has an estimated volume of 130 km3, an age of >200 ka and is characterised by gravitational slumping. On the SE flank, two new landslide events are reported. The younger landslide (Las Playas) occurred 145–176 ka, has a narrow, steep-sided embayment and a corresponding blocky debris avalanche deposit.

The older landslide (San Andres) is recognised on the basis of a highly chaotic seismic facies offshore and reduced upper flank gradients. Its lack of an upper flank embayment and offshore blocky debris avalanche lead us to interpret that the landslide involved gravitational slumping, possibly a series of events, which reduced upper flank gradients, but did not catastrophically collapse to produce a debris avalanche.

[link to eprints.soton.ac.uk]

Possibly imminent?
It might not happen, but if it does, it will for sure...

"After crossing the Atlantic, a lateral collapse of Cumbre Vieja volcano could impose a great sequence of waves of 10-25 meters [32-82 feet!] height on the shores of the Americas."
Get to higher ground. Like Denver,

And with an Elenin alignment tomorrow, we could indeed get this landslide, regardless of any possible quakes!