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5.4 Quake In Canary Islands Means The Volcano Is Waking Up

December 27, 2013 by
A map of the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands is very active with both earthquake and new volcanic activity.

Just days after the Canary Islands and the volcano El Hierro experienced an increase in activity and an earthquake swarm; a 5.4 magnitude quake rocked the tiny island of la Palma outside Santa Cruz.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 13 miles (22 kilometers) deep. Before the earthquake struck early afternoon, December 27, 2013, the volcanic eruption risk for El Hierro had been raised to “yellow.”  This warning means that activity is increasing at the volcano, but no eruption can be predicted.

El Hierro

The swarm of earthquakes over the past few days are indicators that magma is moving into the area and pressurizing the volcanoes. This means that the chances of a new eruption at El Hierro have become more likely.

This also means that a chance of a US East Coast tsunami is more likely.

It is impossible to say whether, and when, a new eruption will occur, but it could happen any time, and quickly. It would probably begin with a series of stronger earthquakes to open up a magma conduit. Based on the inflation and earthquake patterns, the most likely opening would be near the 2011 vent near La Restinga. In any case, La Restinga would be the village most at risk on the island.

Keep a watch on the Canaries, and let’s hope for the best as we see a new island rise from the sea.

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Earthquake Swarms At Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, and Mariana Islands

December 27, 2013 by

Large earthquakes get our attention for many reasons, but sometimes, the earthquake swarms can be more dangerous than the big quakes.

Earthquake swarms are a sign of major earth movement, and they also warn of underlying volcanic activity. Either way, earthquake swarms are a warning to pay attention before major damage is done.

Right now, there are three areas of significance that are experiencing earthquake swarms :

  1. Canary Islands; approx 120 quakes above 1.8 magnitude and more than 40 quakes up to 3.2 magnitude in the past 24 hours
  2. Puerto Rico; occurring at same time the US Craton quakes occurred
  3. Mariana Islands; on the volatile Ring of Fire and SW of the Mariana Trench/subduction zone.
Small USGS globe of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

Earthquake swarm at Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea – USGS

The USGS small globe showing the 5.9 Earthquake off the Azores Islands, Portugal on April 30, 2013.

Earthquake swarm at the Canary Islands in the Atlantic – USGS

USGS small globe of Mariana Islands

Earthquake swarm north of the Pacific Mariana Islands – USGS

 

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Power Of Waking Volcanoes

December 8, 2013 by
A view of Askja volcano at two crater lakes. The smaller, turquoise one is called Viti and contains warm geothermal water and is good for swimming. The large lake is Oskjuvatn, the second deepest lake on the Iceland.

Askja volcano offers a view of two crater lakes. The smaller, turquoise lake contains warm geothermal water and is good for swimming. The large lake is the second deepest lake in Iceland. Both are part of a MASSIVE volcanic crater.

Humans don’t realize how TINY we are. Stand next to a volcanic crater, and you’ll realize just how small you are in comparison to a massive, explosive hole in the Earth.

When volcanoes erupt, they are much more dangerous than most people think. When several volcanoes erupt at once, the impact is far more devastating than we can imagine.

Active Volcanoes Today

Between November 27 – December 3, 2013,  Smithsonian/USGS reported activity at the following volcanoes – activity ranging from active volcanoes  to new activity to unrest:

  1. Etna, Sicily (Italy)
  2. Kliuchevskoi, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
  3. Nishimo-shima, Japan
  4. Sinabung, Sumatra (Indonesia)
  5. Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
  6. Chirinkotan, Kuril Islands
  7. Chirpoi, Kuril Islands (Russia)
  8. Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
  9. Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)
  10. Manam, Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific)
  11. Pacaya, Guatemala
  12. Rabaul, New Britain
  13. Sakura-jima, Kyushu
  14. Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands and Kyushu
  15. Ulawun, New Britain

Earth’s Internal Heat

Sakurajima Volcano

Volcanic eruptions are the result of the Earth’s internal heat releasing pressure.

Fueled by both internal and external forces, the Earth remains in a dynamic state of motion.

Its internal heat is caused by radioactivity in the crust and from heat that rises up from a molten-metal core that is hotter than the surface of the Sun. This heat melts rocks, creates volcanoes, and thrusts mountains upward.

The Earth’s crust expands from this intense, interior heat, and today, this is breaking the continents apart and heating up many global volcanoes.

As the crust gets warmer, sea levels rise and fill the widening spaces between  land masses with fast-moving salt water.

The Earth is in full force motion today, and after 200 million years, the Earth’s many volcanoes are waking up.

Heads Up – it’s time to prepare for an increase in weather changes, rising sea levels, and atmospheric ash!

Filed Under: Social Awareness, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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