La Palma update: acid rain is ruled out given the current meteorological conditions

Published on September 24, 2021
La PalmaNews from La Palma
volcano eruption update la palma

During yesterday's meeting, the Technical Director of PEVOLCA, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, presented the current situation and the immediate prospects, and the spokesperson for the scientific committee, María José Blanco, conveyed the committee's latest conclusions to the attendees.

  • Sulfur dioxide values ​​reflect that the air quality is good
  • Acid rain is ruled out

In the case of ashfall, it is recommended to stay indoors and in the case of people who have to be outdoors, they should use FFP2 masks and eye protection systems. 

The flow of lava has a length of 3,800 meters and is now 2,100 meters away from the coast.

It was explained that the eruption continues its course adjusted to its strombolian nature, with more explosive phases, with four emission centers and a column or plume that reaches up to 4,500 meters in height, with a strong emission of ash. Acid rain processes are not to be expected given the current trade wind meteorological conditions.

Regarding the lava flows, the director and the spokesperson indicated that there are two relatively slow active fronts that move away from the emitting center and one of which has a front of approximately 500 meters.

The northernmost lava flow has almost stopped advancing and the previous day it had a speed of 1 meter/hour and reached a maximum height of 12 meters. The southern front, which surrounds Montaña Rajada, advanced at 4-5 meters/hour yesterday.

  • The area affected today is around 220 hectares, with a perimeter of 15.7 kilometers. 
  • As for the people evacuated, the authorities reported that the number remains at 5,700. 

The teams involved in the operation amount to 789 security and emergency personnel from different institutions of the Town Halls, Island Councils, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Government of Spain, in addition to volunteers.

2 restricted areas of airspace established by ENAIRE

In addition, ENAIRE, the air navigation manager in Spain, has established two restricted areas of airspace in the municipalities of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane. This decision is temporary, until the end of the emergency, in the land and sea area below 3,000 feet, which can only be entered by State security forces and emergency services and those fully authorized.

This decision does not affect commercial aviation, which does not fly over these two restricted areas.

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