Der untermeerische Vulkanausbruch vor El Hierro (Kanaren) in 2011-12: Updates
new pulse of volcanic tremor near La Restinga ?
Update Mon 17 Mar 08:57

Current seismic signal at CRST station in La Restinga (IGN)

Current seismic spectrum and tremor amplitude (CRST station)

Depth vs time of earthquakes at El Hierro volcano during the past 30 days
Whatever is happening there will probably become clearer soon.
The latest earthquake swarm in the NE part of the island had more or less stopped during the past 24 hours. Some GPS stations showed 2-4 cm uplift during the weekend, which supports the idea of a new deep magma intrusion.
New earthquake swarm
Update Sat 15 Mar 12:05

Location of earthquakes under El Hierro since yesterday
A possible explanation includes a new magmatic intrusion at depth (magma accumulating at the lower crust-mantle boundary).
Update Thu 09 Jan 09:08

GPS plots of stations in northern and western El Hierro (IGN)

GPS plots of stations in southern El Hierro (IGN)
Update Sun 05 Jan 09:15

Map of yesterday's earthquakes at El Hierro

Current tremor amplitude / spectrum at CTAB station (western El Golfo)
Update Tue 31 Dec 17:27
It seems more and more likely that the crisis is appraching an end (with the likelihood of a new eruption soon becoming less and less). Seismic activity has decreased to normal levels with no unusual signs over the past 24 hours. Deformation has been stagnating or mostly reverted to deflation at most stations.No earthquakes, but continuing deformation
Update Mon 30 Dec 11:45

GPS plots of stations in northern and western El Hierro (IGN)

Current tremor amplitude (CTAB station, IGN)
A new pattern is slowly emerging: while the SE areas that experienced rapid uplift (presumably by magma accumulating beneath the crust in that area) are stagnating or even showing slight subsidence (El Pinar), the northern and western areas, in particular the western El Golfo depression have started to experience uplift. The strongest deformation occurred in Sabinosa (GPS station HI03) with ground uplift of almost 3 cm during the past 24 hours. Weak tremor continues also to be present on seismic signals from this area.
Update Sun 29 Dec 10:52

GPS plots of stations in northern and western El Hierro (IGN)

GPS plots of stations in southern El Hierro (IGN)

Map of GPS stations (IGN)

Tremor amplitude and spectrum of CTAB tation (IGN)
Update Sat 28 Dec 08:55 & 16:56

Tremor amplitude yesterday (CTAB station, IGN)

Map of recent earthquakes under El Hierro (IGN)

Current deformation GPS signals (IGN)
Update Fri 27 Dec 19:35

Map of recent earthquakes; the magnitude 5.1 event this afternoon is the red dot west off the island.
Large magnitude 5.4 earthquake
Update Fri 27 Dec 19:13

Current tremor signal with the mag. 5.4 quake (CHIE station, IGN)

Location of earthquake (EMSC)
Quake info
Tell us about how you experienced the earthquake
However, these preliminary calculation might be updated in the coming hours, which will help understanding whether it is related to the current volcanic crisis on the island.
Continuing inflation and tremor at El Hierro - new eruption becoming more likely
Update Thu 26 Dec 18:43

Current tremor amplitude & spectrum at El Hierro (CHIE station, IGN)

GPS plots showing inflation of up to 8 cm

Map of recent earthquakes under El Hierro (IGN)
The inflation in the SE part near El Pinar and La Restinga has reached almost 10 cm in just a few days by now.
Instead of new earthquakes, harmonic tremor (steady low-frequency ground vibration) has appeared 2 days ago and since then been gradually increasing. Both observations, as well as some single long-period earthquakes in the past days, are indicators of magma moving into the system and pressurizing it.
This means that the scenario of a new eruption has become more and more likely. It is impossible to say whether and when a new eruption will occur, but it could happen quickly any time. It would probably begin with a series of stronger earthquakes to open up a conduit. Based on the inflation and earthquake patterns, the most likely area would be near the 2011 vent near La Restinga, perhaps even on land. In this case, La Restinga would be the village most at risk.
The previously detected very high Radon gas emission values also suggest the presence of new magma and poses a health risk particularly in closed low-lying rooms of buildings especially in southern El Hierro.
Source & further reading: El Hierro – Signs of a possible coming eruption (VolcanoCafe)
Update Tue 24 Dec 09:08

Location of quakes during the past 2 days (IGN)

Map of GPS stations (IGN)
- A migration of the quakes' hypocenters towards the south is visible.

GPS plots of stations located near El Golfo - uplift also occurrs in this area
- Depths remain mostly at about 15 km, although a few events also occurred at shallower depths.

GPS plots of stations mostly in southern part - note strong uplift of HI8 (El Pinar) and HI9 (Restinga), the area of the current quakes
- Deformation has become more pronounced with some stations in the central and southern part registering 4 cm uplift (example La Restinga, HI9).

Radon emissions vs number of earthquakes (INVOLCAN)
- INVOLCAN reports increasing Radon emissions preceding the seismic crisis.
The most likely interpretation seems to be that new magma has started (again) to intrude into the layer between the mantle and the crust beneath the island and as long as the earthquakes remain at that depth, this magma is rather moving horizontally to form sills. As of now, no eruption seems to be imminent.
Update Mon 23 Dec 09:44

Map of recent earthquakes under El Hierro

GPS recordings (IGN)
Preliminary GPS data suggest a new phase of uplift has started as well, which supports the idea that a new magma intrusion is occurring at the base of the upper crust beneath the volcanic island.
New earthquake swarm
Update Sun 22 Dec 21:28

Map of recent earthquakes under El Hierro (IGN)

Current seismic signal (IGN)
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