Vulcano Cabeza
part of Cumbre Vieja Volcano
LaPalma, Spain
30 Sep 2021
from La Palma News, Manfred Betzwieser writes every day on his blog on lapalma1.net (since many years) in german language. He lives there and is part time pensioner (if I understood that correctly ?).
Today (30 Sep 2021) he writes following translated via DeepL (I insert a couple other, in my opinion photographically more interesting images, which other photographers have taken from the event. Except in cases where Manfred Betzwieser refers directly to a relevant image in his blog)
Volcanic Lava creates new Land
"Curse and Blessing of a Volcano"
Since the volcanic lava reached the coast of Tazacorte, a new delta-shaped island has emerged in the Atlantic. With every day that the Cabeza volcano delivers more lava, the structure grows in height and width. Already, the measured width is around 500 metres. In a week, the 90-metre higher cliff edge could be reached.
In the cover photo
[above is a different photo then in his blog], the eruption site of the Cabeza volcano and the course of the lava flow up to the mouth are clearly visible at the top.
The water mass around this platform has warmed up and reached 26 degrees yesterday, while the normal temperature in the area at this time of year is 22 or 23 degrees. The seawater has taken on a turquoise hue around the entry point and the acidity has increased due to the presence of gases.
The water itself - the researchers clarify - is not toxic, but the pH of the sea fluctuates. "Those who are mobile will have fled when they perceived the danger, but corals or lobsters may be seriously affected. We haven't assessed it yet, but it may have dire consequences due to the loss of species, considering that it is also a special protection area near the Fuencaliente nature reserve," the expert said.
Volcanic lava is the guarantee of survival for the future
With every volcanic eruption on La Palma so far, the island has expanded. In height and also in width or length. The Teneguia in 1971 created 2 square kilometres of new land and the San Juan in 1949 around 8 square kilometres. Of course, it takes many centuries for this mineral-rich lava to become fertile soil. If the volcanic eruptions stop, erosion wears away the surface and a "furteventura" is created. A flat and barren island.
A new cone seems to be forming at the Cabeza volcano
The formation of the new cone can already be seen in the second mouth of the volcano, from which the lava flows more fluidly and which has directed the flow into the sea. The main crater is continuously ejecting black ash, which is drifting west and south thanks to the wind direction.
The lava is expected to continue in this line as long as there are no new eruption points.
NASA photographs the volcano from space
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, one of the crew members of the International Space Station (ISS), recently snapped a photo of La Palma (from 22 September).
"La Palma volcano in eruption. Even more impressive is the orange glow of the lava in contrast to the blackness of the Atlantic. The glow of the lava seems very close to the glow of the city lights ", tweeted the French astronaut. The lights of El Paso can be seen on the left and Los Llanos below.
(i made the original photo brighter)
30 September 2021 • Timeline
10:30
Also last night there was a series of earthquakes with ML2.4 - ML2.9 from 10 to 15 km depth on the municipal areas of Mazo and Fuencaliente. New supply of magma for the volcano.
11:50
Aerial view of the new lava island in front of Tazacorte by Cabildo La Palma
12:00
Increased activity of Cabeza is expected for the next hours. More droning and roaring already announce an increased lava output. Earthquakes in the area of the magma chamber of up to ML3.3 from a depth of 9 - 11 km and further deformation of the earth's surface give some indication.
13:10
The tourism market on La Palma is collapsing. Only 15 percent of the hotels are still occupied, according to the tourism association CIT Tedote. Well, you have to ask yourself who would want to go on holiday on an island with an active volcano eruption at the moment. Volcano enthusiasts, volcanologists and a few intrepid ones. La Palma is currently not a destination for a pleasurable holiday experience. Moreover, there are no flight connections from northern Europe either.
It will all recover quickly once the volcano has ceased its operations. However, this may still take a few weeks.
14:00
Fred. Olsen Express is expanding services between La Palma and Tenerife with new connections.
These additional routes will be added to the usual ones, giving the shipping company six daily sailings, three from each island. So, Fred. Olsen Express will operate from this Friday to next Saturday at the following times:
- From La Palma to Tenerife: 06.30 11.00 and 17:00
- From Los Cristianos to Isla Bonita: 08.30, 14:00 and 19:00
These new connections will serve the emergency personnel of the UME, Fire Brigade, Police, Guardia Civil and other units deployed on La Palma, in order to make the appropriate staffing changes and enable the necessary equipment for the work they need on the island, such as ash sweepers and snow ploughs.
15:50
Elevated gas concentration in Tazacorte and Los Llanos de Aridane. The valley smells of "rotten eggs". Sulphur dioxide (SO2) with elevated levels were registered. Gas masks (Corona masks are not sufficient) are recommended when outdoors.
(See later remark from
Mark Szeglat below)
Other Images I have found
The last image is made by Kicke Rincón", showing workers trying to save the Banana harvest on LaPalma.
Mark Szeglat via Vulkanet.net
He is a volcanologist, who has now arrived on LaPalma -
writes following on his homepage today, 30 Sep 2021
assuming that he took the image ?
"In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the lava flow reached the coast and plunged over the up to 90 m high cliffs into the sea. A lava delta quickly formed in the ocean, from which relatively little steam rises. The area is widely cordoned off. Since a person suffocated in the steam cloud of an ocean entry during one of the last eruptions on La Palma, special care is taken here.
My flat on La Palma is about 3 km away from the active of Cumbre Vieja and while thunder and rumbling fills the air. About 1 hour ago I could feel an earthquake. To see the eruption, I only need to look out of the window: exactly the right atmosphere to report on volcanic eruptions. However, some colleagues overdo it and stir up panic.
Gas mask Sensationalism ?
Yesterday, for example, I observed a reporter moderating with a
gas mask at a distance of
about 4 km from the Ocean Entry. A completely unnecessary action, which was only meant to get ratings and may have caused further concern among the residents. I could already see several residents walking around with gas masks, although the strong wind blew all the gases away from them. This outbreak is certainly not harmless, but if it happened in an uninhabited area, it would hardly get any media attention.
Suggesting magma rises from greater depths
Current seismicity and ground deformation data suggest that magma continues to rise from greater depths and collect in the magma body beneath the volcano. More magma is rising than is being erupted and ground uplift is back to 25 cm. When this level was last reached, the volcano's activity increased significantly. The earthquakes shifted more below the summit area of Cumbre Vieja and it cannot be ruled out that another eruption centre could form there. The situation reminds me of the Etna eruption of 2001, which also started on the flank and days later more fissures opened towards the summit. At lunch yesterday I met the well-known British volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer. He wisely did not want to give a prognosis on the further course, but also felt reminded of the Etna eruption of 2001"
