Tirelessly updating Avalon on the El Hierro eruption.

[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.

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, 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]

How could I've missed this: Ramón just got a twin sister!


El Pais:
New Spanish research vessel, the 'Ángeles Alvariño', 46 meters long, has been launched in Vigo

The ship is a twin of 'Ramón Margalef', used in the volcanic crisis of El Hierro, and has cost nearly 20 million euros

A.R. Madrid 24 FEB 2012 - 20:00 CET9

The new Spanish research vessel 'Ángeles Alvariño'. / IEO

A new Spanish research vessel, the Ángeles Alvariño, has been launched today in Vigo. It has advanced technology for undertaking research in marine geology, physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology, fisheries and environmental monitoring, and is almost identical to Ramón Margalef, also from the National Institute of Oceanography (IEO), which held its first campaign in submarine volcanic crisis of El Hierro. Both vessels are suitable for sailing in regional, national and adjacent seas.


[...]

[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]

Well, I've been Rogers-ed again with no internet connection...

... and missed Polly being officially sanctionned to an indefinite beauty sleep...

Although, she must be having some strange dreams with all these little earthquakes occurring.


Meanwhile:


SEISMIC CRISIS SPECIAL - 03/06/2012 (14:00 pm)
ALL OF THE LAND AREA OF THE ISLAND REMAINS AT YELLOW

La Restinga is reinstated down to the yellow semaphore.


DIARIOELHIERRO.ES, writing (03.06.2012. 14:00)

The Minister of Economy, Finance and Government Safety Canary, director of Civil Protection Plan and Emergency Care for Volcanic Risk, declared the end of the emergency phase (red semaphore) in the maritime area of the eruption of La Restinga and established the pre-emergence (yellow semaphore) to the same area. It also keeps the yellow semaphore to the rest of ​​El Hierro's land area.

Regarding the security of the population measures, the direction of Pevolca has abolished the terrestrial exclusion zone between White Sands, Los Tacorón and Los Mozos beach, but maintaining the maritime exclusion zone in the vicinity of the eruption area, although reduced in distance. This will be materialized by the Harbour Master in a resolution so that until the document is issued, the 4 miles original exclusion zone is maintained.

THE RECOMMENDATION OF NO SWIMMING REMAINS

As for aquatic activities in the area of La Restinga-Tacorón, the recommendation to avoid swimming and diving, fishing and shellfishing remains.

The direction of the Plan continues to take water samples for analysis which results will allow the Public Health Department to update the recommendations in this regard.

[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

[Daughter of Time]

Welcome back Amzer Zo. You were missed.

[Hervé]

Posted by Daughter of Time (here)
Welcome back Amzer Zo. You were missed.

Thank you D.O.T.!

No fun being f%(!<ed over by one of Canada's three stooges... errr, ISP networks... hence one is either Rogers-ed, Bell-ed or Tellus-ed...

Anyway...

...

¤=[Post Update]=¤

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]

Polly grew up another 12 meters in the last couple of weeks in spite of activities supposedly reduced to nil...

Here are the results of Ramon Margalef's 11th leg of the Bimbache campaign,March 30, 2012:

Results

The main morphological differences found in this new survey conducted over the previous one, 15 days ago, are:

• A succession of cones between the primary and secondary cone that form a ridge NNW-SSE direction coincident with the the Rift axis south of the island.

• A slight increase of deposits volume, especially on the upper cone that has brought its elevation to a depth of 88m.

From the point of view of observed volcanic activity in the water column, there is a significant reduction in the presence of emission plumes and a complete disappearance of noise in the echograms.

Fig 1: Work in BIMBACHE1011-11. Tracks of the ship, mapped surface, location of the velocity profile of the sound. MDE obtained from data acquired in 1998 by the BIO Hesperides.

Fig 3: Volcanic cone and associated deposits. Bathymetric survey conducted on 23/02/2012 and 24/02/2012. In the figure we can see the ridge that decreases in depth towards the NNW and joins the main cone with secondary cone mapped in the surveys from 08/02/2012.

Virtual view from the east of the volcanic cone

Fig 5: Bathymetric profile over the crest of the volcano. Below surface depth versus distance. In the upper half of the figure seen from the south of the volcanic cone. Red scale bathymetry (shallow) - Yellow and green (deep). Topography scale (ocher). The crests of the cones define the profile line represented. Direction of the profile: NNW-> SSE.

Fig 4: In the lower right corner of the volcanic edifice MDE (Aerial View). At the top right oblique view from the South of the Cone (The points are obtained with multibeam probes). On the left side of the figure, a vertical slice of the cone cut through its top and bounded by vertical section planes defined by yellow lines in both views on the right side of the figure.

Of particular interest in that publication:

Cone

The new survey clearly shows the alignment of the different active emission points giving rise to a 675 m long ridge, along a NNW-SSE direction. Depth increases in the 154° direction along this ridge.

The highest point of the volcano is located at 88 m depth, representing an increase of 32 m from the last bathymetry performed on days 7 and 8 February.

The coordinates of the main summit remain: 27° 37.18' N, 17° 59.58' W.

The gradient of the volcano slope varies between 26 and 33 degrees, with the greatest trending to the SW surfaces and stretching out to the SE.

******
Text and captions retranslated from Giggle, reworked and corrected "par moi" since in one of them one can happily read that the depths of the different cones forming the ridge decreases toward the SSW [sic]... where, in fact, it either decreases towards NNW or increases towards SSE... the SSW direction corresponds to no mapped features.

Conclusion... another rushed job under high pressure to get it out ASAP!

However, all in all, I am actually glad IEO does publish their results as it allows some of us to have something to chew on and with... a big thanks to the IEO gals and guys!

That is, especially those ones:

[Hervé]

From space on March the 8th:

And the approaching dust storm from the Sahara which has reached El Hierro by now, hence the "fog" (Calima) on the webcams:

... and where the low altitude dust cloud is at today:

[Hervé]

SPECIAL SEISMIC CRISIS - 9/3/2012

DIARIOELHIERRO.ES, writing (09/03/2012)
The Maritime Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in a decision issued today, limits the maritime exclusion zone to a 0.5 miles [nautical] radius area around the underwater volcano of El Hierro. This sector is defined by the area within a circle centered at Latitude 27-37.18 N and Longitude 017-59.58W.

This decision is taken after reduction of the level of public warning, by the Director of Civil Protection Plan for Volcanic Risk (Pevolca), after the emergency phase and declared a pre-emergency situation in the area of maritime exclusion.

Also in this sector are prohibited all fishing activities, sport and recreation are made from or with the support of boats, including diving activities either sports and / or recreational.

Navigation justified in that area, whether due to technical and / or scientific reasons, can be made with the prior permission of the Harbour Master.

[Hervé]

To give an idea of where Polly's top cone is located on Google Earth with respect to the webcams and La Restinga harbor entrance as well as the length and orientation of the whole emission fissure:

Official map:

[Hervé]

Strongest so far (2.1 at 15:06):

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]

Ooooopsss... Polly's still bubbling!

It's unfortunate that the following is authoritatively proclaimed on Earthquake-report.com, flying in the teeth of observed facts:

Update 10/03 – 17:55 UTC
- We have checked and and it WAS NOT a jacuzzi. Joke Volta has confirmed this to ER.

Update 10/03 – 17:25 UTC
- What looks like a waves breaking at the eruption webcam has been observed in the past minutes, but it is probably the effect of the wind and/or currents.

From the webcams (paying attention to the time stamps as well as to the Jacuzzi):

The activity then subsided to re-emerge later in the evening:

Notice the Harbor entrance green light at the bottom of the above pictures, which gives a reference indicating the Jaccuzzi to be in the direction of the main vent (see the Google Earth locations in above posts, as taken from the webcams location).

I do hereby confirm these observed churned waters above the main vent to be a Jacuzzi! Not the interaction of waves and currents.

[sygh]

Excellent work, and observations.

[Hervé]

Another statement on Earthquake-report.com which fails to hold much water... so to speak:

Update 10/03 – 21:45 UTC
[...]

- Joke Volta has spoken with Ramón Ortiz and here we have translate his words for what he believes could be happening:

” What can be observed now we saw 2 weeks ago. I have looked at the seismic network, and there has been no variation, no anomalies. When there is an eruptive activity this is reflected in the seismic network. What could be happening is that as magma is still hot, it takes time to cool down, this material is still releasing heat and vapor, and there is still gas release. That is why there is still an exclusion zone around the volcano. Tides can affect the process that we see. As the tide changes, the pressure does too and this can alter what is happening. The effect of the tides we have observed it two weeks ago when there was a decrease in activity. The visibility of the volcano changes and this is also due to the tides.

Can you spot why that statement is as waterproof as a sieve?

Well, from my point of view, if that statement were true, that water churning would be continuous... not intermittent as observed.

The sporadic emergence of a Jacuzzi above the main vent has to, therefore, correspond to new heat and gas input... if not magma!

[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]

Atlantic Explorer just arrived at La Restinga:

So, may be, we'll get fresh data and first-hand view of Polly if they manage do get their ROV anywhere near the active vent... to be followed.

Addenda:

Sirius ROV AKA "Wall-E":

Pixar's "Wall-E"

[<8>]

Hi..

Is the people on this island in constant fear? or has it subside over time?
I guess it would only be normal for some people to finally get tired of being afraid.

Please forgive me I am not here to judge and I obviously don't have all the facts, I just noticed the neverending updates on this thread.
I guess one could say, come back when you got your own volcano in your living room, to that I would answer. I would rather kill myself then live in fear..

P.S...I do hope everything works out, this is your journey, live it well my friend..

..8..

[Hervé]

Polly's been bubblingly giggling most of the afternoon and evening... probably because still alive and kicking when most of the authorities wish her dead and burried for good so as to return to "businees as usual" as exemplified by these statements from Earthquake-report.com:

Update 11/03 – 18:38 UTC
- Images Joke Volta from today showing a beautiful sunrise and a few images with a super faint jacuzzi. Click here.

Update 11/03 – 21:34 UTC
- Today a number of people and Joke saw a faint jacuzzi or rather degassing in the vent area. This was also confirmed by scientists.

Don't now about you, but if there is "degassing," water is churned and therefore... Jacuzzi!

As for "super faint," here are a few screen shots:

Sheeeeeshhhh! Some people would love to get you to distrust your own eyes...

[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