The recent detection of 131 small earthquakes under Las Cañadas del Teide This has once again placed Tenerife in the media spotlight. The figure may seem alarming at first glance, but the technical data and scientific analysis suggest more calm than alarm.
According to reports from the National Geographic Institute (IGN), it is a very weak seismic activityThe activity is of a hybrid nature and low frequency, consistent with the typical behavior of a closely monitored volcanic island. There are currently no signs indicating an imminent eruption or a significant increase in volcanic risk.
What is known about the 131 earthquakes recorded under Mount Teide
IGN has confirmed that, since the night of April 3, starting at 22:47 p.m., a series of seismic events beneath Teide National Park. In total, they have counted 131 earthquakes of hybrid nature in the Las Cañadas area during the last few days.
These earthquakes occur in the form of very low energy pulses accompanied by low frequency signalsThese are characteristics of a type of seismic activity linked to deep internal processes within the volcanic system. Specialists emphasize that none of these events have been felt by the population of Tenerife. This type of micro-seismicity It is common in monitored volcanic buildings.
Of all the earthquakes detected, the IGN technical teams have been able to manually locate between 31 and 33 eventsAccording to the different time cuts analyzed, this manual location allows for a more precise determination of the depth and position of the hypocenters under Las Cañadas.
The recorded values are very low: between 0,4 and 1,6 mbLgThese energy levels are considered typical of the low-magnitude micro-seismicity associated with active volcanic systems and are well below the threshold of human perception, which is why no reports of tremors have been received from residents.
Most hypocenters are concentrated in depths between 5 and 18 kilometers below the surface, with many of them around 10 kilometers deep. This depth corresponds to deep zones of the volcanic edifice, where readjustments and fluid movements can occur without causing visible changes on the surface.
A seismic episode without a swarm pattern
One of the key factors scientists use to assess the danger of an event like this is the temporal and energetic pattern of earthquakesIn this case, the IGN specialists highlight that the recorded activity It does not follow the typical structure of a seismic swarm, like those observed months ago.
Instead of a sudden, concentrated increase in tremors, what is being detected are isolated pulses of seismic activityseparated in time and with very modest energies. The recorded signals correspond to long-period (LP) events, common in volcanic environments where fluids are involved at depth.
The technicians point out that, since last March, the Seismic activity in the area surrounding Mount Teide never completely disappeared.Occasionally, they have been observed small pulsesbut always within what is considered normal behavior for a volcanic edifice like Teide.
Furthermore, current data indicate that The activity recorded in recent days is weaker than that observed in previous episodes. For a period of about three or four days, the 131 micro-earthquakes are considered a relatively low number compared to other more intense phases.
All of this leads experts to insist that, although this activity deserves a continuous and meticulous monitoringThis does not fit with the patterns that precede a volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands or other similar systems. Recent experience and published analyses of seismic spikes on the island help to contextualize these episodes (comparative analysis).
Is there a risk of volcanic eruption in Tenerife?
The most frequently asked question among residents and visitors is clear: Do these 131 earthquakes imply an increased risk of eruption? The response from the National Geographic Institute is unequivocal: with the information available, There is no indication of an imminent eruption. nor a significant increase in danger in the short or medium term.
Those in charge of surveillance indicate that No classical precursor signals have been detected of an eruptive reactivation, such as a notable and sustained increase in the magnitude of earthquakes, tremors clearly felt by the population, accelerated deformations of the terrain or abrupt changes in the geochemistry of volcanic gases.
As explained by the IGN management, The probability of an eruptive scenario has not changed compared to previous weeks. The current series of earthquakes fits within a context of internal readjustments and fluid circulation at depth, without direct translation to the surface in the form of significant fracturing or rapid magma upwelling.
For other alert levels to be activated, scientists would need to observe a combination of factors: earthquakes of greater magnitude and clearly feltSimultaneous changes in ground deformation and significant alterations in the emission of gases such as sulfur dioxide. None of that is currently visible beneath Mount Teide.
Consequently, official bodies insist on a twofold message: Maximum rigor and scientific monitoring, but without alarmismThe current activity is within the normal dynamics of a volcanic island, and any relevant changes would be communicated immediately to the authorities and the population.
One of the most advanced volcanic monitoring networks
One of the most reassuring aspects is the existence in the Canary Islands of a very dense and modern volcanic monitoring networkIn Tenerife alone, the IGN has deployed more than one hundred seismological, geodetic, and geochemical monitoring stations distributed throughout the island. volcanic monitoring network and interactive maps help to contextualize this instrumentation.
This infrastructure allows monitor in real time Key parameters such as seismicity (including microseismicity), ground deformation measured by geodetic techniques, and the composition of gases emitted by the volcanic system are analyzed. The combination of all these data provides a highly accurate picture of the internal state of Mount Teide.
Thanks to this network, any significant change in the internal pressure of the volcanic system, magma movement, or fluid circulation It would be detected early. The stations are designed to capture even very low amplitude signals, which are then subjected to detailed analysis in the IGN laboratories.
The island of Tenerife is, at this moment, one of the best-monitored volcanic territories in EuropeThis allows for informed decisions based on continuous and verified data. This capacity for constant observation is what underpins the message of caution but reassurance delivered by scientists.
Furthermore, the information generated by these stations is shared periodically with other scientific and civil protection organizations, strengthening response protocols in case of any change in the level of risk.
Provisional data and possible adjustments to the count
Although the number of 131 earthquakes in the Teide area It has been made public as a reference; IGN itself has clarified that it is a provisional dataThe reason is simple: the analysis of low-frequency microseisms is a complex process that requires time and very careful filtering.
In practice, technicians review recordings from different stations, apply different types of filtering, and Automatic detections are readjusted with manual reviewsThis fine work can reveal additional events of very low amplitude that initially went unnoticed in the preliminary counts.
For that reason, it cannot be ruled out that the number of detected earthquakes increases slightly as the analysis progresses. Far from being a cause for concern, this potential update is within the normal range for managing highly sensitive seismic data.
Specialists remember that this type of hybrid and long-period seismicity It is relatively common in active volcanic systems worldwide. It is usually related to the movement of fluids (water, gases, or magma) at great depths, without necessarily implying that the process will result in a surface eruption.
In any case, the IGN's commitment is to continue promptly reporting any relevant changes in the evolution of the seismic series and in the interpretation of the data, maintaining a constant flow of communication with local and regional authorities.
A scenario of volcanic normality with reinforced monitoring
The current situation in Tenerife falls within what experts call "normality within volcanic activity"The island is, by its very geological nature, a territory where low-magnitude seismicity is part of the normal functioning of the subsoil.
What has changed over time is the technological capacity to detect even the slightest tremorToday, signals are being recorded that would have gone completely unnoticed a few decades ago. This improvement in instrumentation can give the impression that there is more activity, when in reality what we have is much more precise observation.
Scientific authorities insist that 131 earthquakes recorded these days is few for an interval of three or four days when compared to other more active volcanic episodes, both in the Canary Islands and in other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, the general recommendation for residents and visitors is clear: Follow official information and avoid alarmist interpretations that can circulate without scientific backing. Mount Teide remains a natural and tourist emblem of the island, and current activity does not alter safety conditions in the National Park.
With the available data, the explanations offered by the IGN and the robustness of the volcanic monitoring network in the Canary Islands, the series of 131 earthquakes on Mount Teide are interpreted as an episode of micro-seismicity This is typical of an active but stable volcanic system. Monitoring will continue closely, but the situation remains normal for daily life in Tenerife.
