Tirelessly updating Avalon on the El Hierro eruption.

[Daughter of Time]

Thank you Amzer! Your dedication is touching and admirable.

[Hervé]

Strongest so far (no data): ... but dramatic change of tune from the harmonic tremor:

For the day:

Frequencies spectrogram, the vertical streaks indicate “events” (tremors/EQs) whereas the horizontal ones reflect volcanic/magmatic activity:

From Wikipedia: A Harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and/or infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma and/or venting of volcanic gases from magma. Being a long-duration continuous signal from a temporally extended source, a volcanic tremor contrasts distinctly with transient sources of seismic radiation, such as tremors that are typically associated with earthquake and explosion.

How is El Hierro looking like, now:

(Click on picture to go to webcam page)

Refresh your browser to get the latest traces

For the last 10 days, following the count of EQs as shown by the orange bars (≥ 2.0), it now shows whatever Polly is up to as far as seismic activity is concerned:

Since the beginning

New cumulative graph starting October 10, 2011. The continuously changing scales keeps compressing the earlier graphs to the bottom and to the left!

Location of the EQs for the last 10 days:

Since the beginning

Refresh your browser page to get the latest numbers and positions.

[Hervé]

Earthquake activity (> M 1.5 logged by IGN) of the last few days:

Interesting depth of hypocenters for the Atlantico-Canarias ones.

... and Jacuzzi still operational as of this morning:

[Hervé]

Fresh from Polly's oven, second Restingolitas batch of the day:

[Hervé]

Cornide de Saavedra finally made it to the El Julan's Las Calmas Sea:

See post # 1717 for Cornide de Saavedra's campaign details.

[Hervé]

The volcano El Hierro still to emerge. laopinion.es

Hierro volcano ejected lava down to 2,000 meter deep

Scientists ruled out an eruption out of the sea in present circumstances

CARMEN SANTANA
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE
The submarine volcano eruptive phase of almost two months south of the island of El Hierro appears to be increasingly less likely to emerge. The direction of the Civil Protection Plan for Volcanic Risk (Pevolca), which manages the geological phenomenon, confirmed yesterday that the source material being ejected from the eruption is falling down on the two thousand meter deep seabed.

That, coupled with landslides on the volcano, confirmed by research vessels that have worked in the area in recent weeks, strengthens the argument that the aerial eruption would not be possible, at least in the current circumstances, as have maintained many of the experts from various agencies that followed the phenomenon.

The emergence of a new island as a result of volcanic activity off the coast of La Restinga was toyed with in the early days of the phenomenon that began last October 10.

But as the phase of underwater volcanic eruption has been evolving, with an increasingly pronounced decrease of seismic activity and stability of the tremor signal, has been reducing the chance of seeing any new emerging island south of El Hierro . Last November after a campaign in El Hierro, the studies of the research vessel of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) Ramón Margalef confirmed the existence of landslides on the submarine volcanic structure generated by the accumulation of materials.

The map of the seabed off the island in that area and the location of volcanic vents, less than 200 meters deep, the emergence of a new island is now inconceivable with such landslides. At the same time, the National Geographic Institute Ramón Margalef confirmed to the Pevolca that it has found that the volcanic cone has developed and has been issuing a lot more material.

The result of this activity is that "at present there are three cones attached to each other and very close to each other, associated with the escarpment which the first cone rose from." And all these formations are new material, according to scientists, at a depth of between 160 and 180 meters.

From these three cones, then, the submarine volcano continues emanating lava and a large part of its flow is ongoing, not to the surface but down to depths between 1,700 and 2,000 meters. In addition, the Pevolca states that emissions are occurring on the northern slope of the volcano.

Scientists initially located the mouth of the volcano two kilometers from the coast and 500 meters deep,. The expulsion of smoking pyroclastics, which releases are becoming more widely spaced in time and with less intensity, the experts pointed that the volcano which has formed is less than two hundred meters from the surface. So it was estimated that the structure could have grown about three hundred and fifty meters before the occurrence of successive landslides.

[Hervé]

Today's happenings...

... non-smoking floating boulders, some bigger than a seagul's wingspan:

First fishing boat back to La Restinga...

Polly's greetings to Cornide de Saavedra:

Soon... Christmas...

[Hervé]

Strongest so far (no data):

For the day: :

Frequencies spectrogram, the vertical streaks indicate “events” (tremors/EQs) whereas the horizontal ones reflect volcanic/magmatic activity:

From Wikipedia:A Harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and/or infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma and/or venting of volcanic gases from magma. Being a long-duration continuous signal from a temporally extended source, a volcanic tremor contrasts distinctly with transient sources of seismic radiation, such as tremors that are typically associated with earthquake and explosion.

See top of page for the other auto-updating diagrams

[Anna]

Amzer Zo, have not all the fish around the island moved elsewhere?

[Hervé]

Posted by Anna (here)
Amzer Zo, have not all the fish around the island moved elsewhere?

I don't think so... I still see seagulls around...

What happened was that the fishing got forbidden for the love of poisoning fear, etc... due to all the dead fish popping up (most due to shock waves as in explosions and the rest, mostly, as shown by the available studies, from lack of oxygen and very few from chemical poisoning) and all the fishermen and divers with their gears were moved out of La Restinga with the first evacuation.

Since the semaphore downgrade from red to yellow for La Restinga and nautical traffic reinstated between La Estaca and La Restinga along a 1/4 mile coastal corridor... boats are coming back.

The downgrade back to yellow semaphore being mainly due to the fact that most of the lava ejected goes down to sea bottom 2000 meters below instead of building up a submarine volcanic structure/cone.

As for the fish and sea creatures, they just need to keep upstream of the plume to maintain good health.

[Hervé]

Remember that day?

Here is the video that goes with it:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=WibNg7AMUZU

[Hervé]

Not much happening today other than the usual Jacuzzi bubbling, only one M. 2.0 EQ at 03:00:39... and boats coming back to La Restinga:

Both Cornide de Saavedra and Ramon Margalef are back to Santa Cruz de Tenerife... rubbing halyards and comparing notes... I guess.

[Hervé]

From space today:

[Hervé]

Strongest so far (no data):

For the day: :

Frequencies spectrogram, the vertical streaks indicate “events” (tremors/EQs) whereas the horizontal ones reflect volcanic/magmatic activity:

From Wikipedia:A Harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and/or infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma and/or venting of volcanic gases from magma. Being a long-duration continuous signal from a temporally extended source, a volcanic tremor contrasts distinctly with transient sources of seismic radiation, such as tremors that are typically associated with earthquake and explosion.

See top of page for the other auto-updating diagrams

[Hervé]

Interesting Tchoo-tchoo train tune being played by the harmonic tremor...

No earthquake since 6 pm yesterday...

Only a Jaccuzzi bubbling away in the distance (see webcams).

[Hervé]

FORUM - 10/12/2011 (12:10 pm)
OPINION

The threat of misinformation
By David Cabrera de León (*)

"It is easier to live with more than 11,900 earthquakes than with some of the information furnished in the media."

I watch the news and read, quote: "The threat of the volcano. Since he set foot on the island, a strong smell of sulfur dominates the air and the dizziness is permanent ... "

I gather that the inhabitants of El Hierro, the same that walk every day on this beautiful island, which at any time since the beginning of the eruptive process that has gone on for four months, didn't noticed that we are short of breath or dizzy more than usual, except for occasional sinuous curve of the Summit; will agree that some information is making irreparable damage to the image of the island, the local economy and insular life,.

I know the work of all journalists is commendable and I know how important accurate information for crisis management is, which is why I want to step out and try to send a message back to sanity, a message about the true reality experienced by the Island and this Municipality, and the reality is that this type of "intros" is closer to fiction than to be merely informative, have painted such a very negative and unrealistic view of the current situation in the island that even some embassies recommend not to travel to El Hierro.

Those who live here, day to day, those who have come to visit, those who now know El Hierro, that of the 11,900 earthquakes, the underwater volcano, they know that it is the same as before the "crisis". Terrible word. Only more prepared now. We recognized that our country is volcanic, just like other parts of the world. We have learned to distinguish between earthquakes that occur on the coast from the ones which occur at sea, we have learned to organize, to develop security plans, and could continue with a long list of learning. No information has been hidden because being informed means being prepared. And we are more prepared than ever.

The traders, hoteliers, restaurateurs, farmers, carriers, they do. El Hierro is still the same, and its inhabitants as well, with the only difference that we do not know how long its economy can last if it continues to offer that image.

Proof that business is as usual is that the Meridian Island Marathon got 200 registered in the first two days of notice. They do have appreciated that the island remains the same, I hope the rest, officials, reporters and tourists understand and can appreciate, beyond spiced information for impact and the alarm of a true reflection of reality, that El Hierro is still the same, a different destination, with its peaceful difference and a new vision.

(*) Mayor of the municipality of La Frontera.

[Hervé]

Webcams saga...

Today the RTVC.es camera operator folded early with his/her camera... it's Saturday after all... no visuals from that one...

As for the panoramic one from Telefonica/Movistar... well, it gave a panoramic view of the zoomed-on-Jacuzzi eruption one...

Here is the story starting from a few days ago when the Telefonica/Movistar guy was struggling to get the horizon on the eruption webcam... horizontal.

Here is that eruption webcam viewed through itself... well, at least its shadow on the ground next to an open truck-door:

One would think this is a truck's front hood... right?

Fooled you all! It's a stepping-stool!

The repairman along with the inevitable advertising of that "Buffering" thingy for Adobe Flash Players...

... at least he is using screw-drivers, not duct-tapes...

... the steel, cell-tower masts in the background... no such luxury for Telefonica/Movistar cams... good, solid tree-trunk telephone poles, fastened by loose, whistling, swinging halyards which nicely vibrate and swing that sturdy wooden pole...

... which was today's subject of the La Restinga panoramic view webcam...

... that's the white blob on the wooden pole which shadow is seen on the above top picture... now confirmed not to be a "street-light" when dusk time came... and lights are on in La Restinga.

Hence, the only reliable webcam of the area:

... which shows the new plume that developed today.

[Hervé]

This morning's INVOLCAN/GC flight:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=kSTTkq4_0Hk

[Hervé]

Strongest so far (no data):
(no earthquake logged for the last 30 hours)

For the day: :

Frequencies spectrogram, the vertical streaks indicate “events” (tremors/EQs) whereas the horizontal ones reflect volcanic/magmatic activity:

From Wikipedia:A Harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and/or infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma and/or venting of volcanic gases from magma. Being a long-duration continuous signal from a temporally extended source, a volcanic tremor contrasts distinctly with transient sources of seismic radiation, such as tremors that are typically associated with earthquake and explosion.

See top of page for the other auto-updating diagrams

[Hervé]

About the Tchoo-tchoo train tune being played by the harmonic tremor:

... here is the most rational explanation I could find around from a Volcanocafe comment:

GeoLurking says:
December 10, 2011 at 19:07

As has been noted… there is a periodic noise signal in the CHIE spectrum/Helicorder plots.

Using my world view, and terminology, this is chugging. Yeah, it may have an official name. But with wagging, drum-beats, tornillo and what all for terminology… I call it chugging because that is what it seems like. It’s not the “poppers” term that I have used… which is also a construct and not official. Poppers are like really short tornillos. Every reference I have seen of Tornillos are that they are a lot of seconds to a minute or so in length. “Poppers” are less than 30 seconds or so and well defined. This … “bursts/chugs” are not well defined.

[...]

Either way.

This “chugging” could indicate that Bob is having a bit of difficulty in maintaining the vent/feed. As water rushes in and blocks the pipe, it gets vaporized and pushed back out. Rinse-repeat. Eventually it won’t be able to push it out and the “chugs” will slow. (if I’m correct) When it stops then the deeper system will either cool in place and go to sleep, or pressure will build. (cool, I’m right either way) What happens down deep… that’s anybodies guess. It may not like being unable to vent the pressure.

One thing is for certain… IGN should be in possession of or very soon to be in possession of, the most detailed picture of what it’s like down there. Here’s to hoping they don’t play the idiot politics game and just makes whatever call based on what the data actually says. Scr*w the wishful and career minded politicians. THEY don’t matter. Peoples lives do. If the politician doesn’t like it, tell them (who ever it may be) to take a nice long swim out at Bob’s Jacuzzi™. I’m sure the low pH water will heighten their awareness to the situation.

... which is very similar to what was expressed in post # 1304.

chug 1 (chg)
n. A dull explosive sound, usually short and repeated, made by or as if by a laboring engine.

intr.v. chugged, chug·ging, chugs 1. To make dull explosive sounds.
2. To move or travel while making dull explosive sounds.

[Imitative.]
chugger n.

Summary from AVCan Enrique:

Current Volcanic Islands (AVCAN)

NOTE AVCAN 375 - EARTHQUAKE-VOLCANIC ACTIVITY - HIERRO ISLAND - DECEMBER 11 2011-11:30 h Iberian Peninsula - seismic-volcanic activity continues to moderate, with seismicity in the El Golfo marine area. Continues an important signal of volcanic tremor in the Restinga area, with an amplitude that remains slightly higher (a trend that carries on for 60 hours and where the intensity has doubled) and presents a growing number of explosions, possibly hydromagmatic every few minutes, a typical strombolian behavior for which establishes a balance between water inlet and outlet of gases in the exhaust duct so that it pulses like a geyser. The magnitude of the earthquake only 1.9. New earthquakes 1. 18km depth. Before yesterday 2. Yesterday 0. Today is 1. A total of 11,923 earthquakes are located in El Hierro by IGN from 9:00 am of July 19, 2011 (Enrique).