17 Oct La Palma eruption update 17th october 2021: The airport continues to be affected by ash
La Palma eruption update 17th october 2021: The airport continues to be affected by ash
Daily summary
The eruption continues to show a strombolian mechanism with mixed explosive and effusive phases, with the effusive phase remaining the stronger of the two currently. The main active lava flows are the two branches to the north of the original flows. The southern branch of this flow has surpassed La Laguna Mountain to the south and is currently approximately 200 m from the coast. In the event that this flow reaches the sea, PEVOLCA confirmed a confinement of the population in Todoque would be ordered, similar to when the first flows reached the sea. The northern branch of the active flow is located above La Laguna and continues to advance slowly. The unfavourable meteorological conditions for ash dispersion persist and are affecting the operation of La Palma airport and some airspace in between La Palma, La Gomera and Tenerife.
SO2 concentrations remained below threshold levels throughout the day, continuing a trend of improving concentrations. PM10 concentrations remained elevated in all stations due to the presence of the Saharan air mass, with the daily threshold (50 μg/m3) being exceeded in all stations on La Palma except San Antonio (Breña Baja), with levels in Los Llanos being particularly high, due to the secondary influence of ash from the volcano. Volcanic tremor remains high, with sporadic intense pulses also being seen. Earthquake activity remained similar to previous days and contained both intermediate (10-15 km) and deep (>20 km) earthquakes. 101 events were recorded, peaking at 4.6 mbLg. Deformation shows renewed stability in the stations closest to the eruption, with a very slight deflation signal seen in some distal stations. The ash and gas plume reached, 4200 m, and the SO2 emissions from the volcano were smaller than the 16th, at 3,929 tons per day, although this is an underestimate.
An aerial photograph of the lava flow front to the north of the lava flow field. Image credit: Cabildo de La Palma, Ticom Solutions
Sources: Government of the Canary Islands, PEVOLCA, Involcan, IGN, DSN, Cabildo La Palma, 112 Canarias, Tolouse VAAC, Copernicus EMS
Lava flows
Earthquakes
Exclusion zone map
Exclusion zones shown here have been approximated from press releases from the Cabildo de La Palma and will not be exact, nor claim to be official maps of the exclusion zones. For official information, please contact the Cabildo de La Palma.
Official social media
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News articles
- France24 – One month on, volcano shows no sign of stopping – here
- Telegraph – Scientists monitor eruption – here
- EuroNews – Spanish military monitor lava temperature – here
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Eruption footage
News and Interviews
Witness Testimonies
Interactive Lava Flow Map
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Interactive Earthquake Map
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