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Volcanic alert system (VAS) developed during the 2011–2014 El Hierro (Canary Islands) volcanic process

Bulletin of Volcanology volume 76, Article number: 825 (2014) Cite this article

Abstract

The 2011 volcanic unrest at El Hierro Island illustrated the need for a Volcanic Alert System (VAS) specifically designed for the management of volcanic crises developing after long repose periods. The VAS comprises the monitoring network, the software tools for analysis of the monitoring parameters, the Volcanic Activity Level (VAL) management, and the assessment of hazard. The VAS presented here focuses on phenomena related to moderate eruptions, and on potentially destructive volcano-tectonic earthquakes and landslides. We introduce a set of new data analysis tools, aimed to detect data trend changes, as well as spurious signals related to instrumental failure. When data-trend changes and/or malfunctions are detected, a watchdog is triggered, issuing a watch-out warning (WOW) to the Monitoring Scientific Team (MST). The changes in data patterns are then translated by the MST into a VAL that is easy to use and understand by scientists, technicians, and decision-makers. Although the VAS was designed specifically for the unrest episodes at El Hierro, the methodologies may prove useful at other volcanic systems.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by the projects from the CSIC (2011-30E070) and MINECO (CGL2011-28682-C02-01). The authors are grateful to the DGAPA UNAM-CSIC academic exchange and DGAPA-PAPIIT-UNAM programs for their support. We used seismic data from the IGN (http://www.02.ign.es/ign/layout/sismo.do, public website, ⒸInstituto Geogrfico Nacional); from the EMSC (http://www.emsc-csem.org); and NEIC-USGS (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes). The deformation data were obtained from the GRAFCAN GNSS-GPS public network, Canarian Government. All of the data have been complemented and updated with CSIC-UCA networks. We are indebted to the Cabildo Insular de El Hierro, and its three municipalities (Valverde, El Pinar de El Hierro and Frontera) for their support. Last, but not least, we wish to thank all of the people living on El Hierro for their encouragement and understanding of our scientific work. The comments of the reviewers (Carina Fearnley and anonymous) and the Associate Editor Matthew R. Patrick greatly helped to improve the quality of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute IGEO, CSIC-UCM, J. Gutierrez Abascal, 2, Madrid, Spain

    Alicia García & Ramón Ortiz

  2. LAG-Faculty of Sciences, Cádiz University, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    Manuel Berrocoso & Alberto Fernández-Ros

  3. Volcanic hazard and risk consultant, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    José M. Marrero

  4. Universidade do Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal

    Gonçalo Prates

  5. Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, México

    Servando De la Cruz-Reyna

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  1. Alicia García
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  2. Manuel Berrocoso
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  3. José M. Marrero
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  4. Alberto Fernández-Ros
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  5. Gonçalo Prates
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  6. Servando De la Cruz-Reyna
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  7. Ramón Ortiz
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Correspondence to Alicia García.

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García, A., Berrocoso, M., Marrero, J.M. et al. Volcanic alert system (VAS) developed during the 2011–2014 El Hierro (Canary Islands) volcanic process. Bull Volcanol 76, 825 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-014-0825-7

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