Posted on 10/17/2011 2:37:07 PM PDT by Errant
Update 17/10 17:29 UTC : The volcano discussion panel @ jonfr.com is expecting that we are in the stage of a surtseyan eruption. The vent opened in a very shallow depth of 150 m. That means that the magma can form pillow lava so that the building soon reaches the surface and then continues with phreatomagmatic eruptions.
(Excerpt) Read more at earthquake-report.com ...
Normally, damage to the local area with the birth of a new island just offshore or a major addition to El Hierro itself.
It's worth watching though since it could cause other volcanoes in the area to start up due to recurring earthquakes from this one (same thing occurring in Iceland). If that happens, who knows what the ultimate consequences might be.
I do know that we're seeing a major increase (> 50%) in earthquakes and active volcanoes worldwide compared to the past several decades.
I think that one is el Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jlaiJRwU6Q
articles.cnn.com/.../tidal.wave_1_tidal-wave-tsunami-cumbre-vieja?_
Thanks bud...been following this very closely over the last two weeks.
Amazing to me is the now week long harmonics....just incredible and in my opinion quite the thing to watch.
Again thanks for the Ping!
10/15/2011 -- Sakurajima back on line -- large lava eruption
Good Stuff!
They can't get a better phone to take the videos?
Someone must have been hanging out the window?
LOL
With a “pay as you go” T-Mobile!
On the second site (ATS), people debunk the myth that El Hierro would cause a tsunami if you read far enough into the thread. Why? For the above reasons.
So Again...WRONG ISLAND.
Actually you could not be more wrong.
http://geomar.geo.ub.es/eurodom/documents/Massonetal01_ESR.pdf
Errant, if you have not read this paper yet, you will find it very comprehensive.
From the article:
The key characteristics of debris avalanches include a relatively narrow headwall and chute above 3000 m water depth on the island flanks...
I believe this applies to all the islands. If you removed the water from around El Hierro and stood on the highest peak, you'd be over 10,000' above the surrounding terrain.
Secondly I remain severely troubled by the continuous harmonic tremor...if anything beside a full scale eruption that will weaken the earth it would be the non-stop tremor.
At least the activity is south of El Hierro for now and that is most likely where a collapse would occur. If it does, it should lessen the force of a tsunami to the the other islands, northern EU countries or our East Coast?
Then again, these quakes started on the other side or underneath the island and worked themselves South until the magma vented. There could be a chance of the venting working its way back underneath the island. Imagine the catastrophe if the island split in half and one or both halves collapsed into the ocean!
As for the quakes....my understanding from a geologist in Spain is that there is about 40k Olympic sized swimming pools worth of magma pretty much just sloshing around and through the rift zone. There is no natural chamber above 15km so it's fighting pressure from beneath to empty. Interesting is that the hotspot is located right under the western most side of El Hierro.
All this added up, I think at that depth if the magma ever does find an outlet the resulting quake will be between 5 and 6 in intensity. Will that be enough to trigger a collapse? Certainly the risk is rising the longer this plays out with the volcanic tremor being present for so long.
It seems that something will happen the next few days...
Ash particles coming up today. Ships have been ordered away from waters around La Restinga and aircraft have been banned from flying over the island’s southern tip.
Thanks AdmSmith. I’d ping the Catastrophism list, but basically I’m waiting for El Hierro to put up or shut up. :’)
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