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Seismic activity La Palma Island

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CelticRambler
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#101

Post by CelticRambler »

quodec wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:00 pm Looks like a second lava flow has reached the sea - or is this more lava on top of the original?
It's essentially the same one, but as the existing flows cool (especially during periods of reduced activity) they create obstructions to the previous flow forcing it to move away from the original track. The top of the flow can also cool significantly creating a roof over the stream for a long stretch and a "new" vent further away from the cone. But it's all part of the same giant crack in that part of the island.

In this video:

at 0m13s-0m17s you can see how this eruption's lava is flowing around, and now into, an old cone. The lava field is spreading out a little, but it's pretty much restricted to same area that this collection of volcanoes has been modifying for the last few million years. Not really the kind of place you'd want to build a house, but people did (same way as they build on known flood plains in wetter parts of the world ... )
quodec
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#102

Post by quodec »

Very active last 24 hours for the volcano. A new vent has opened and lots of fast-flowing lava is making its way downhill!

CelticRambler
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#103

Post by CelticRambler »

Ah, quodec - ya beat me to it! :mrgreen:

But it's mad, Ted, mad, what's happening today. Just look at the size of that fountain, and the width of the flow (from 5mins-ish)


And this: friggin waves within the lava stream! :o
quodec
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#104

Post by quodec »

Magnitude 4 earthquake 40 minutes ago. How are the inhabitants coping with all this? It must be surreal, unnerving living there and many must fear for the future on the island!
CelticRambler
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#105

Post by CelticRambler »

quodec wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:00 pm Looks like a second lava flow has reached the sea - or is this more lava on top of the original?
From what I've read (briefly) this morning, yesterday's massive flow is a coming from a completely new opening, quite some distance from the main cone and its various chimneys. There are some "anatomical" diagrams out there on the Web that show the deep chambers under the ridge, any of which could be responsible for this new activity. (Sorry, can't post them as my internet connection is quite unstable right now) That said, we're still looking at the same system, so it's not exactly a major new development.
CelticRambler
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#106

Post by CelticRambler »

Hideous background music, but the visuals are spectacular - first half of the clip shows the whole top of a new cone falling apart as a huge amount of lava spews out; and the second half shows where it's all going.

quodec
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#107

Post by quodec »

Fascinating recent drone flyover showing what has survived in the midst of the lava flows!

quodec
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Re: Seismic activity La Palma Island

#108

Post by quodec »

The volcano has finally calmed with little or no emissions for the last number of days. It will be a blessed relief for the inhabitants and allow them to take stock and begin to repair and rebuild. Fingers crossed for them!

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