A volcano rages continuously on La Palma. Lava continues to seep out of the chimney. Recordings now show how the lava flows “glow”.
Update from Friday, 11/12/2021, 2 p.m.: On Thursday morning there was another eruption of the volcano on La Palma. Video recordings from the volcanological institute of the Canary Island show how a lava flow makes its way down the slopes of the Cumbre Vieja mountain range.
Recordings have already been published in the context of which the institute describes the “electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum”, which causes the lava to “glow” before sunset.
La Palma: volcano in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range does not come to rest
In connection with volcanological research, science has been using electromagnetic methods for years. In a doctoral thesis at the University of Cologne, for example, it says: “By measuring electrical and magnetic fields on the earth’s surface, an image of the electrical resistance distribution in the earth’s interior is obtained. Resistances correlate with different rock types and rock conditions: hot, liquid rock has a low one; cold, solid rock, on the other hand, has a high electrical resistance. “
The methods are used, among other things, to observe magma chambers in order to predict possible volcanic eruptions. Background: Lava emerges from a volcano as soon as the magma chamber, a cavity in the earth’s crust, is overfilled inside. Gas increases the pressure, so that lava penetrates into the area of the volcanic vent – and finally reaches the earth’s surface.
NASA published pictures after the volcanic eruption on La Palma: The satellite images illustrate the extent of the force of nature.
First report from Thursday, 11.11.2021, 5 p.m .: La Palma – The eruption of the volcano in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range on the Canary Island was seven weeks ago, and there is no end in sight. In addition to the general state of emergency, the hardened lava that has formed on the coast has also caused a stir. Images of the so-called lava delta show the fascinating extent of the natural phenomenon.
The approximately 1000 degrees hot lava, which has been pouring inexhaustibly into the sea, which is only 20 degrees warm since the volcanic eruption on La Palma, hardens as soon as it reaches the surface. As a result, the volcanic island had grown by several hectares at the beginning of October, as reported by the German press agency. Video recordings show how the gigantic increase in the island extends in all directions into the Atlantic. At the points where it flows into the water, clouds of gas rise incessantly.
La Palma: Researchers film lava delta after volcanic eruption
A river that flows into a lake or a sea is actually referred to as an estuary delta. The main stream forks in an approximately triangular shape. The lava delta on La Palma therefore gets its name, although so far there are no recordings that show the natural phenomenon from a bird’s eye view.
The first recordings of the hardened magma on the coast of La Palma, which give an impression of the power of the lava delta, came from the Andalusian Institute for Marine Sciences. Using a drone controlled from a boat, they flew 20 meters above the surface of the water to determine the dimensions of the lava delta created by the eruption of the volcano.
Volcanic eruption: New beaches are formed in the lava delta on La Palma
The lava delta on the coast of La Palma extends over 500 meters and has swallowed a lot of Los Guirres beach. However, new beaches are already forming on the coast of the volcanic structure, as can be seen on video recordings from the Spanish Institute for Natural Products and Agrobiology, which were published in early November. (vbu / tu)
Headline image: © VICTOR SVENSSON
