Deformation of entire El Hierro Island due to rising magma

[Mark]

Possible upcoming submarine eruption in the Canary Islands.
 
Since 12:40 UTC, a strong tremor signal and many stronger quakes have been recorded. A series of about 10 strong volcanic quakes (probably well >M2.5) occurred between about 13:00-13:10. Magma is moving again, but we have to wait to see the location of the quakes.
 
A new press release by the government admits that deformation of the island due to magma pressure is strong. It was kindly translated by Earthquake-Report:
 
“We have observed a deformation of the entire island. The center of the deformation originates in the present earthquakes area.
 
The energy release and ground deformation show an acceleration of the active magmatic process on the island of El Hierro, according to information forwarded by the National Geographic Institute at the direction of the Civil Protection Plan for Volcanic risk (PEVOLCA)
 
The total cumulative displacement from 24 June to 24 hours yesterday, is about 3-4 cm in the horizontal components and 4-5 cm in the vertical component.
 
See entire article:
 http://mobile.volcanodiscovery.com/el-hierro/submarine-eruption-2011.html



   

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[David]

Thanks for the update Mark - I recently read that things were still unsettled at El Hierro.

[Mark]

El Hierro getting worse by the day

“This is the news today, Tuesday 3 July 2012,” says Hans, a retired analytical chemist.
 
“The island has now been elevated by 9 cm due to the magma pressure. Last night there was one quake of 4.4 on the Richter scale, at a depth of 18km, which was also felt on the neighbouring island of La Palma.”
 
“The energy released by today’s activity has been calculated at 1,4 billion joule.”
 
“So far today there have been 94 tremors and since the beginning of the current tremor period on 24 June there have been 1,505 tremors of which 234 were greater than 2.4 on the Richter scale.”
 
“There has not been a significant change in the emission of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or radon on the north-side of the island where the chemical sensors are located.”
 
See:
 http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=266577
 
See also:
 http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=266591