The advance of flow number 7 culminated in it reaching the sea at 12:03pm local time, where it begins to form a second lava delta north of the first one. In anticipation of this event, a preventative confinement of the four closest neighbourhoods in Tazacorte was ordered due to possible gas emissions, which affected 3,000 people. Elsewhere, the other active lava flows and eruptive activity continue as in the previous days. The dispersal of ash and gases to the E/NE continues, and for this reason airport operations remain affected. The rate of seismicity increased, especially at deep depths, although remained in the range of the last few days. 91 events were recorded, with a lower proportion of intermediate (10-15 km depth) events to deep (30-45 km depth) events, and the day’s largest earthquake was a mbLg 4.8 event at 36 km depth.

Volcanic tremor remains low with some occasional fluctuation, whilst the local 6 cm inflation observed at the LP03 GPS station in Jedey closest to the eruption has now completely reversed. At the other GPS stations, the weak regional deflation signal seen since late October has weakened to a point where it is not significant, and stability is seen in the stations. SO2 emissions increased relative to the 21^st, at 4,500-6,000 tons per day, whilst the ash and gas plume was measured at 3,000 m. As a general trend however, satellite measurements imply current SO2 emissions are lower than the start of the eruption. Air quality regarding SO2 concentrations remained at good or reasonably good levels at all stations throughout most of the day, although levels worsened in Los Llanos exceeding the hourly alert threshold (500 μg/m³) at 10 pm local time before quickly returning to better levels. PM10 levels were between regular and reasonably good on the eastern side of the island, whereas good PM10 levels were maintained on the western side of the island.

A map of the lava flows on the 22nd showing where flow number 7 has reached the sea. The red area to the north shows the areas that have been confined due to the lava reaching the sea, and the green area shows the maritime and terrestrial exclusion zones. Image credit: 112 Canarias

Sources: Government of the Canary Islands, PEVOLCA, Involcan, IGN, DSN, Cabildo La Palma, 112 Canarias, Tolouse VAAC, Copernicus EMS