Temporal and spatial evolution of Cabeza de Vaca 2021 rift eruption (Cumbre Vieja volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands) from geophysical and geodesic paramethers analyses

Abstract

The Cabeza de Vaca eruption is the most recent, damaging, and long-term eruption since historical records at La Palma. We analyzed geophysical parameters (seismicity, surface deformation, thermal anomalies, volcanic activity) with the aim to reconstruct the temporal development of the magma plumbing system. The seismic sequence (>9000 events, mbLg ≤5.0) can be grouped into nine distinct phases, which correspond to well-separated spatial clusters and distinct earthquake regimes. A strong premonitory thermal anomaly was calculated on July 2021 at the South of La Palma. The source of the magmas (40-20 km depth) storage withing the upper mantle. The second source (<15 km depth) indicated a short-term stagnation of alkaline magma within the lower crust, near the Moho. These earthquakes outline delineating the magma pathway. Just before and immediately after the eruption (phases 2 and 3), the high-frequency seismicity in the mantle disappears completely, reappearing ten days after the eruption started. The pattern of deformation began before the eruption with a breakpoint around September 11, after which, deformation accelerated sharply followed by a stabilization in phase 3 and a decrease in following phases. The level of deformation suggested that a shallow magma intrusion was stablished. Based in the historical eruptive pattern, it could be dilucidated that: a) the volcano could enter in a prolonged phase of tranquility or, b) that a new eruption occurs between ca . 2045 and 2065 with a duration slightly lower than the recent one. Therefore, assuming a pessimistic scenario, an adequate territorial planning is meritorious.

Experimental Constraints on the Rheology of Lavas From 2021 Cumbre Vieja Eruption (La Palma, Spain)

“…After 50 years of quiescence, on 19 September 2021 a new violent strombolian and effusive eruption started on the western slope. The eruption lasted ∼3 months until 13 December, emplacing about 0.2 km 3 of lava and tephra (Civico et al., 2022), inundating ∼12.5 km 2 of land, covering more than 100 km 2 by variable thickness of scoria lapilli and ash, severely affecting the local communities (Oterino et al., 2021). Magma composition spans the tephrite‐basanite fields, and the lavas are texturally porphyritic with clinopyroxene ± amphibole ± titanomagnetite ± olivine showing mean crystal contents of ∼18‐4‐2‐2%, respectively (Pankhurst et al., 2022).…”

Temporal variability of explosive activity at Tajogaite volcano, Cumbre Vieja (Canary Islands), 2021 eruption from ground-based infrared photography and videography

“…The Tajogaite eruption was preceded by increased seismicity from October 2017 to August 2021, interpreted as intrusions at mantle (15-30 km) depth (D' Auria et al, 2022;Longpré, 2021;Oterino et al, 2022), which were also associated with changes in 3 He/ 4 He in a cold mineral spring (Padrón et al, 2022), and changes in soil Radon and Thoron concentrations (Torres-González et al, 2020). Immediate precursors to the 2021 eruption began September 11 with shallow seismicity and ground deformation (Longpré, 2021;D' Auria et al, 2022;De Luca et al, 2022).…”