Eruptive dynamics and petrological evolution of recent volcanism on the El Hierro IslandImplications for volcanic hazard assessment

Abstract

The 2011–2012 El Hierro eruption proved to be an excellent opportunity to study the monogenetic basaltic volcanism on the island, compare the products emitted with others from earlier eruptions, and apply techniques and instrumental data in order to achieve a comprehensive knowledge about the processes that take place before and during such types of eruption. This multidisciplinary approach provides new information about magma ascending, conditions and inner processes, basaltic eruptions, mechanisms of deposition, interaction scenarios and finally their products. These findings can play an important role in enhancing volcanic hazard assessment not only for El Hierro island but for the whole Canary archipelago and boost studies on basaltic monogenetic volcanism, which is definitely the most likely to occur in the next years. Both long- and short-term hazard assessments for the islands, should take into account possible scenarios that include the 2011 submarine eruption, Malpaso felsic explosive eruption and its magma-water interaction and Chinyero, short but initially violent, basaltic eruption.