tenerife seismic swarm involcan reassurance

Tenerife seismic swarm: no eruption risk, say experts

Seismic swarm detected under Tenerife

The Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) has moved to reassure the public after a new seismic swarm was recorded beneath Tenerife. According to the agency, this latest episode does not change the likelihood of a volcanic eruption on the island in the short or medium term.

The Canary Islands Seismic Network detected the swarm between 6.34pm on Friday and approximately 11.00pm. It consisted of hybrid seismic events, a type of signal that has been observed on Tenerife on previous occasions.

Fourteenth swarm since 2016

Involcan has explained that this is the fourteenth swarm of this kind recorded on the island since October 2016. It adds that the event shares very similar characteristics to previous episodes, placing it within a recurring process that has been monitored for years.

The most likely hypothesis, according to the institute, is that these swarms are linked to the injection of hydrothermal volatiles of magmatic origin into Tenerife’s hydrothermal system. In other words, they are believed to be movements or interactions of fluids deep within the island’s volcanic system.

Geochemical and geophysical evidence

Involcan maintains that this interpretation is supported by several pieces of geochemical and geophysical evidence. Among them, it cites an increase in diffuse carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the crater of Mount Teide, as well as slight ground deformation detected in the north-eastern sector of the volcanic edifice.

Despite this, the agency insists that the new seismic swarm does not represent an increased risk of eruption in the short or medium term. The detected activity confirms that Tenerife’s volcanic system remains active, but it does not in itself point to an eruptive scenario.

Volcanic activity versus imminent eruption

The institute also recalls that this episode once again highlights that the process responsible for the increase in the so-called “volcanic noise” recorded on Tenerife since late 2016 is still ongoing. According to Involcan, there is so far no evidence that this process is subsiding.

Experts stress the need to distinguish between volcanic activity and an imminent eruption. Tenerife is a volcanically active island and can experience volcanic earthquakes, gas emissions, or slight ground deformation. However, these indicators must be analysed together and, taken in isolation, do not allow the conclusion that an eruption is about to occur.

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