The Seismic Research Center (SRC) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday raised concerns 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 from UWI observers, when volcanoes spew ash, SO2 can be lifted by jet currents and spread around the planet.
So, and according to two images of 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 Ocean and already reaching Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia.
The UWI statements come after an observation at the Volcanic Ash Warning Center in Washington, DC, which indicates that it continues to monitor the presence of ash in the atmosphere, so it regularly sends messages about it to airlines.
As for the SO2 flow, which averages 809 tons per day, the latest advice from the UWI indicates that the swarm of tremors is continuing and that the pace of Friday night’s earthquakes has slowed significantly.
“No tremors have been reported in the past twelve hours,” said the SRC.
The agency went on to say that 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 seen to be at least 100 meters deep and the center is located to the southwest of the volcano’s summit crater,” the SRC said.
In turn, he explained that there are more inside that new crater, but only one is clearly visible.
Likewise, other fumaroles, identified by their ashes 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 explosive activity appears to have ceased so far”.
“The current pattern of seismic activity could indicate an increase in volcanic lava, but this has not yet been confirmed,” the SRC said in its bulletin on Saturday.
“The explosions, accompanied by the fall of ash of various sizes, could restart in the future and hit San Vicente and the neighboring islands,” added the SRC.
For this reason, volcanologist Richard Robertson said that although nothing happens for a week, only tremors caused by eruptions are reported, “we cannot say that the activity has stopped for various reasons.”
Along the same lines, Robertson expected volcanic eruptions to be expected to be larger than those in 1979, but produced only a third of the material released by the mountain 42 years ago.
He therefore compared the current eruptions with those from 1902.
Robertson also warned that the amount of energy this volcano had at the start of its eruptions indicates that “it still has enough energy and hopes to dissipate.”
“I know people want this to end now, just like me, but the reality is that we will have to deal with this situation for a long time,” he admitted.
For this reason, Robertson indicated that the population will have to get used to the panorama of regular explosions.
“What we are sure about is that it will cause damage and destroy a lot of property and land,” said Robertson.
The volcano La Soufrière erupted on April 9, three months after “exuberant” eruptions.
Meanwhile, Argyle International Airport is expected to resume operations next Monday at 4:00 PM (8:00 PM GMT).
For this reason, the airport’s chief executive, Corsel Robertson, said the airport is constantly cleaning its runways and adjacent areas to receive humanitarian relief flights.
Likewise, the airports in Canouan, Unión and Mustique will continue to operate from 9am (1pm GMT) to 5pm (9pm GMT), but will only receive special flights with prior authorization.
However, James Mitchell Airport in Bequia, Grenadines, will remain closed until next Monday.