El Involcan continues to record an increase in the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide by the volcanic system of El Hierro

El Involcan continues to record an increase in the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide by the volcanic system of El Hierro

25NOV11 (11.43 UTC) Since last July scientists of the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER), an agency of the Cabildo of Tenerife, and is now part of volcanological Institute of the Canaries (Involcan) have performed over 8500 steps diffuse flow of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the island of El Hierro through numerous scientific campaigns on diffuse volcanic gas emissions that have materialized over the entire surface of the island of Isla Meridian. To date, the results reflect the record of an upward trend of the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere by the volcano island of El Hierro has reached 2186 ± 87 tons per day, an amount equivalent to 6 , 34 times the normal average value considered for the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the island of El Hierro (345 tonnes per day).

The purpose of these scientific surveys to assess spatio-temporal variations of the diffuse emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere by the volcanic system island of El Hierro in the context of the recent seismic-volcanic crisis Island Meridian . On the other hand, realize the reasons for this type of scientific stem from the inability to obtain such information through permanent instrumental networks, to be absolutely convinced that the gases are the driving force of volcanic eruptions and the importance of carbon dioxide (CO2) in volcanic surveillance programs because it is the second major component of volcanic gases after water vapor, and its low solubility in molten silicitados - magma - making carbon dioxide (CO2 ) to escape with their ease of volcanic systems in depth.

These scientific surveys have failed to materialize due to MAKAVOL project "Capacity Building of R + D + i + d to contribute to the reduction of volcanic risk in the Macaronesia (MAC/3/C161)" which is being co-funded by the transnational Cooperation Programme of the European Union Madeira-Canary-Azores (MAC 2007-2013) and the collaboration of the Island Councils of Tenerife and El Hierro.

Involcan is an institution demanded unanimously by the Senate (2005), Parliament of the Canary Islands (2006) and House of Representatives (2009) with the aim of contributing to improving and optimizing the management of volcanic risk in Spain.