El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands, Spain): eruption moves towards ocean surface

The submarine eruption south of El Hierro Island is getting closer to the surface and approaching the so-called Surtseyan stage (named after the 1963 eruption and birth of Surtsey Island south of Iceland).
First small steam explosions and water fountains have been observed. These geysir-like fountains reach 10-20 m height. It is likely that there will be more explosive activity, so-called phreatomagmatic explosions (caused by water mixing with lava), in the near future, and possibly the emergence of a new island. The activity is accompanied by strong tremor and single steam explosions can also be seen on the recordings.
It cannot be predicted whether and when the eruption reaches an island-building stage, but chances are clearly becoming bigger each day, that new land appears out of the sea one of these days.

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• INSTITUTO VOLCANOLÓGICO DE CANARIAS (INVOLCAN)

El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands, Spain): strong volcanic tremor suggesting a new eruption

Seismic activity beneath the El Golfo region has further increased and there is now a strong tremor signal. This suggests that a second submarine vent might in fact have started to erupt.

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• Seismic recording at El Hierro in real-time (IGN)

El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands, Spain): seismic activity beneath El Golfo intensifies, possibility of a new eruption

The seismic activity off the NW coast of El Hierro under the El Golfo area is intensifying and near the same levels immediately before the ongoing submarine eruption south of the island.
Yesterday alone 153 quakes were measured with magnitudes of up to 3.9. Most quakes are still at safe 20 km depth and not related to the opening of eruptive vents on the sea floor. At the same time volcanic tremor (a low-frequency seismic wave component typical of magma movements) has been slightly increasing and the is now little doubt that magma is moving beneath the island. At this stage, it seems not unlikely if a new intrusion makes its way to the seafloor, starting a new submarine eruption form a second vent in the near future.

A video on youtube was reported to show green water discoloration in the area and there are voices that an eruption could already have started. This seems unlikely and could not be confirmed. Such water discoloration is probably caused by drifting currents carrying mud coming from the ongoing submarine eruption south of the island.

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• Seismic activity at El Hierro (IGN)

El Hierro volcano (Canary Islands, Spain): deep earthquake swarms in the El Golfo area

While the submarine eruption south of El Hierro Island continues, a large number of mostly deep (around 20km) earthquakes of up to 3.3 magnitude have been occurring in the gulf off the NW coast of this island.
Yesterday, IGN listed 63 earthquakes, 4 above or equal to 3, 27 in between 2 and 3 and 32 lower than 2. The strongest was a M3.3 quake at 14:16 UTC. Today, Saturday IGN has listed already 32 earthquake, the vast majority with epicenter in the El Golfo area. The tremor of 10:46 UTC this morning was the strongest at M 3.3.
It is likely that this is related to magma movements at depth, but at present not a sign that another eruption or a major change in the eruption style could be in the making. However, the situation clearly needs to be followed carefully.

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• Earthquakes in the Canaries list by IGN
• Earthquake-Report.com updates on El Hierro

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