The volcano of La Palma, in the Canary Islands, has erupted and the lava creeps in without restraint. This makes everyone wonder if the destination is the ocean and what would happen if the lava reaches the sea. Well, when entering with the salt water, various phenomena could occur that we will see below.
Experts explain that if the lava touches the salt water then there is a chemical reaction and both the sea and the atmosphere can fill with hydrochloric acid , which is not good for humans.
In this sense, people who are in the area are asked not to go near the rivers because it would also be dangerous.
The volcanologist and professor of geology, José Mangas, explained in an interview in Onda Cero that when it reaches the sea there will be an evaporation of the water, with impressive clouds of water vapor, in addition to toxic gases because seawater is not pure. It can have chlorine, sulfur, carbon and hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric acids, carbonic acids, CO2 will be formed … that is, toxic gases will arrive and both the atmosphere, the sea and people could be poisoned.
Image of Salvamar Alphard in the exclusion zone in #LaPalma. The lava rushes into the sea in the area of Los Guirres beach from 11pm in the Canary Islands. There is a south wind in the area. pic.twitter.com/OdCZnRsJWj
– MARITIME SALVATION (@salvamentogob) September 28, 2021
The National Geographic Institute explains that magma, before turning into lava, contains dissolved gases with a weight ratio that can reach 5%. By incorporating water from the sea or aquifers, the amount of gas available can be greatly increased.
The main components of volcanic gas are: water, almost 80%, carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and, to a much lesser extent, hydrogen (H2), chlorine (Cl) or fluorine (F).
What condition would people have?
In this case, if the lava reaches the sea, a series of hydrochloric acid particles would be produced in the atmosphere and irritation to the skin and eyes could occur. It can also cause respiratory problems, something that people who are near the volcano are already experiencing, so they wear the mask that on the other hand must be worn by the Covid. In addition, there would be a direct impact to the exposure of toxic gases.
Risks in maritime navigation
In addition, they have also warned that pleasure boats are far from this coastal area because the lava can arrive and this would also produce risks in maritime navigation.
From its Twitter, Salvamento Marítimo has reported that “the sailing ban affects a limited area of the western coast of #LaPalma: to the south by Punta del Pozo (Puerto Naos, Los Llanos de Aridane) and to the north by Playa de las Viñas (Tazacorte) and the one parallel to the coast, half a mile from the coast ”.
