June 27, 2024, 1:04 p.m., Pacific: This was a 2022 post on Sao Jorge, but today’s move by CIVISA for two other volcanic systems references the 2022 swarm, so I have reworked the old post.
CIVISA’s scrolling news announcement on their website is remarkably detailed (which is why I decided to pin this). No eruption is happening there now and nothing appears imminent in coming days or weeks.
But it is worth watching!
Per Google translation:
TERCEIRA SEISMOVOLCANIC CRISIS AND ADJACENT STRUCTURES
SANTA BÁRBARA VOLCANO – V3 / TERCEIRA FISSURAL VOLCANIC SYSTEM – V1
The Institute of Volcanology of the University of the Azores (IVAR), based on information obtained through the monitoring network managed by the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Center (CIVISA), reports that the seismovolcanic crisis that has been occurring on the island of Terceira since the June 24, 2022 remains the same, showing signs of clear increase.
The seismic activity recorded in the context of this crisis has been concentrated with greater incidence within the perimeter of the Santa Bárbara Volcano and has been essentially characterized by the occurrence of microseisms. To date, the most energetic event occurred on January 14, 2024, at 07:19 hours (local time), reached a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter Scale and had an epicenter approximately 1 km E of Serreta , having been felt with a maximum intensity of VI on the Modified Mercalli Scale, in the western sector of the island. On that occasion, some cracks were recorded in houses with little resistance to seismic action, the collapse of loose stone walls, damage to some communication routes and landslides in the interior of the island and on cliffs.
The recorded seismicity has also covered, although less frequently, the Fissural Volcanic System of Terceira, especially in a section that crosses the Serra de Santa Bárbara and extends to the vicinity of the Golf Club, to the east. It is also worth highlighting the activity that has been generated further south, to the east of the area of influence of the Santa Bárbara Volcano, between Cinco Ribeiras and Angra do Heroísmo, and at sea, to the west and south of the island.
Considering that since March 2024 seismic activity in the western sector of Terceira Island has been clearly above normal levels and has been accompanied by some signs of crustal deformation, facts that indicate the occurrence of a magmatic intrusion at depth, the The Crisis Cabinet decided to raise the alert level of the Santa Bárbara Volcano to V3 and the Terceira Fissural Volcanic System to V1.
The phenomenon that is affecting the island of Terceira cannot be dissociated from the increase in seismovolcanic activity that has occurred in the Azores region and, in particular, in the Central Group, since the beginning of 2022, and the pattern of activity observed indicates the possibility that events felt by the population continue to occur, which may eventually reach magnitudes and intensities greater than those recorded to date.
If the situation described changes or data is obtained that allows new interpretations, new information will be produced.”
12:06 PM · Jun 27, 2024.
April 15, 2022, 3:43 p.m., Pacific: Per the browser translation of this article, seismicity continues, now a little higher, now a little lower. Recently, they noted two quakes off shore. That’s about it for news right now. The alert level is still at 4.
March 27, 2022, 9:36 a.m., Pacific: From Twitter, about an hour ago:
Here are the latest Sentinel images showing magmatic uplift on Sao Jorge (as of the 27th). Uplift is prominent on two sections of the island, indicating a dike intrusion. In the last 72 hours #earthquake activity has slowly decreased. #portugal #saojorge #azores #volcano #quake pic.twitter.com/BnQLmlZq5O
— GeologyHub (@HubGeology) March 27, 2022
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Original post
I first heard of this volcanic island this week, when there was seismic swarming in an active volcanic system.
After watching the video below, posted by a US tourist three years ago, I hope São Jorge Volcano doesn’t go off. But, per the Global Volcanism Program, it does do that about once a century.
Sigh.
https://youtu.be/Y4iakQqBhzY&rel=0
The image at the top of this post shows a faja. To this layperson’s eyes, what thoses houses are sitting on looks exactly like the lava deltas that Cumbre Vieja, almost 900 miles to the northwest, built last year. Sigh.
Local monitoring (Portuguese).
Featured image: Luis Silveira via Wikimedia, public domain.
Flight To Wonder 