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Monitoring of carbon dioxide hazard in the inhabited areas of Puerto Naos and La Bombilla, La Palma, Canary Islands

Pedro Hernández1 ,2, Gladys V. Melián1,2, Antonio J. Alvárez Díaz3,4, María Asensio-Ramos1, Germán D. Padilla1,2, Daniel Di Nardo1, Daniela Taño Ramos3, Laura Trujillo Vargas3, Claudia Ramos Delgado3, Eleazar Padrón1,2, Alexis M. González Pérez3,5, Nemesio M. Pérez1,2

  • Affiliations: 1Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, SPAIN; 2Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; 3Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain; 4Agrolaguna, Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain; 5Hidrolap Medioambiental S.L., El Paso, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain 

  • Presentation type: Poster

  • Presentation time: Tuesday 16:30 - 18:30, Room Poster Hall

  • Poster Board Number: 66

  • Programme No: 6.3.25

  • Theme 6 > Session 3

Abstract

The eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in 2021, Cumbre Vieja (La Palma, Canary Islands) is the eruption with the greatest impact on urban areas in Europe during the last 75 years. Once the eruption was over, the main volcanic risk that has been present until now is the anomalous emission of CO2 affecting the inhabited areas of Puerto Naos and La Bombilla, both 6km from eruptive vents. The first records of high levels of open-air CO2 concentration in these areas were measured by INVOLCAN approximately three weeks before the end of the Tajogaite eruption (December 13, 2021). To investigate this volcanic hazard, regular studies of diffuse CO2 emission have been conducted at La Bombilla, whereas outdoor and indoor air CO2 concentration have been monitored regularly at La Bombilla and Puerto Naos since December 2021. Diffuse CO2 emissions at La Bombilla have shown values from 4.0 to 170 td-1 (average=14.4 td-1) with δ13C-CO2 values ranging from -8.63 to -4.28‰ vs. VPDB (average=-5.5‰). Temporal evolution of diffuse CO2 emission rate showed maximum value during first study (170 t d-1), with rest ranging from 4.0 to 70 td-1. CO2 concentration in outside air measured at a height of 15cm at La Bombilla and Puerto Naos showed values up to 87% (average=0.67%) and 30% (average=0.23%), respectively, the highest recorded so far during the post-eruptive period. Both inhabited areas must be continuously monitored to reduce the risk associated with gas emissions, and innovative decisions are currently being considered to mitigate the danger associated with CO2.