The Seismic Research Center (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday expressed concern about the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitted by La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, approach Spain and then reach Africa and Asia.
According to a warning issued by UWI observers, when volcanoes throw ash, SO2 can be lifted by jet streams and scattered across the planet.
Thus, according to two images from the Copernicus system, which has been collecting atmospheric data since 1979, it can be seen that the SO2 released by the volcano is moving across the Atlantic and is already reaching Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia.
The UWI statements come after an observation made at the Volcanic Ash Warning Center in Washington, DC, which indicates that it continues to monitor the presence of ash in the atmosphere, so that it regularly issues their warnings to airlines.
Regarding the flow of SO2, which has an average of 809 tons per day, the latest recommendation from UWI indicates that the swarm of tremors continues and that the pace of earthquakes has slowed significantly on Friday night.
“No tremors have been reported in the last twelve hours,” SRC said.
The agency also said the volcano produced a new crater, about 900 meters long from north to south of the volcano and 750 meters from east to west.
“The crater is perceived to be at least 100 meters deep, and its center is located in the southwestern part of the cusp crater of the volcano,” SRC said.
In turn, he explained that in that new crater, there are others, but only one can be clearly seen.
Likewise, other fumaroles, identified by their ash and clouds of smoke, are located in the northern part of the new opening.
The SRC also warned that the volcano “continues to erupt, although the explosive activity appears to have ended so far.”
“Its current pattern of seismic activity could indicate an increase in volcanic lava, but this has not yet been confirmed,” the SRC said in its Saturday bulletin.
“The blasts, accompanied by falling ash of varying magnitudes, could resume in the future, affecting San Vicente and neighboring islands,” the SRC added.
For this reason, volcanologist Richard Robertson said that although nothing happens for a week, but only tremors caused by eruptions are reported, “we can not say that the activity has stopped for various reasons.”
Along the same lines, Robertson anticipated that volcanic eruptions should be larger than those that occurred in 1979, but produced only a third of the material released by the mountain 42 years ago.
Therefore, he compared the current eruptions with those reported in 1902.
Robertson also warned that the amount of energy this volcano had at the beginning of its eruptions indicates that “it still has enough energy and hopes to expel it.”
“I know people want this to end now, just like me, but the reality is that we will have to deal with this for a long time,” he said.
For this reason, Robertson indicated that the population will have to get used to the panorama of regular explosions.
“What we are sure of is that it will cause damage and destroy a lot of property and land,” Robertson said.
La Soufriere volcano erupted on April 9, three months after the “effusive” eruptions.
Meanwhile, Argyle International Airport is expected to resume operations next Monday at 16:00 (20:00 GMT).
For this reason, the executive director of the airport, Corsel Robertson, said that the aerodrome was constantly cleaning its runways and adjacent areas to receive humanitarian aid flights.
Likewise, the airports of Canouan, Unión and Mustique will continue to operate from 09.00 (13.00 GMT) to 17.00 (21.00 GMT), but only receiving special flights with prior permission.
However, James Mitchell Airport in Bequia, Grenadines, will remain closed until next Monday.