La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation

[EN] On 19 September 2021, a strombolian volcanic eruption began on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. This event resulted in the destruction of 73 km of roads, urban infrastructure, numerous houses, and agricultural crops, affecting approximately 7200 people and causing losses exceeding...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González de Vallejo, Luis I., Álvarez Hernández, Aaron, Ferrer Gijón, María Mercedes, Lockwood, John P., Pérez, Nemesio M., Hernández Pérez, Pedro A., Miranda-Hardisson, Ana, Rodríguez Losada, José A., Afonso Falcón, David, Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los, Páez Padilla, Javier, Hernández-Gutiérrez, Luis E.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/377535
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/377535
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85213448976
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Volcanic geohazards
La Palma post-eruption reconstruction
Lava flows cooling rates
id ES_ba70ecf4c2e9f982f76afb7dd1bc80d7
oai_identifier_str oai:digital.csic.es:10261/377535
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk MitigationGonzález de Vallejo, Luis I.Álvarez Hernández, AaronFerrer Gijón, María MercedesLockwood, John P.Pérez, Nemesio M.Hernández Pérez, Pedro A.Miranda-Hardisson, AnaRodríguez Losada, José A.Afonso Falcón, DavidRíos Díaz, Héctor de losPáez Padilla, JavierHernández-Gutiérrez, Luis E.Volcanic geohazardsLa Palma post-eruption reconstructionLava flows cooling rates[EN] On 19 September 2021, a strombolian volcanic eruption began on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. This event resulted in the destruction of 73 km of roads, urban infrastructure, numerous houses, and agricultural crops, affecting approximately 7200 people and causing losses exceeding 1.2 billion euros. Around 12 km2 were covered by aa and pahoehoe lava flows, which reached thicknesses of over 70 m. Following the end of the eruption, thermal, geological, and geotechnical site investigations were carried out for the reconstruction and territorial and urban planning, with the main objectives focused on opening roads through hot lava, constructing new urban settlements in areas covered by lava flows, and facilitating the agricultural recovery. The primary challenges to reconstruction included the very slow cooling rate of the lava, resulting in persistent high temperatures, exceeding 500 °C, its highly heterogeneous geotechnical properties with numerous cavities and lava caves, and the presence of toxic gases. Site investigations included geotechnical boreholes, seismic geophysics and ground-penetration radar, and temperature measurements of lava flows using drones and thermocouple devices inside boreholes. To estimate the cooling rates of the lava flows, two physical cooling models were developed based on thermal behavior and geological–geotechnical data. The results indicated that lava cooling durations in some areas exceed practical waiting times for commencing reconstruction. This led to the development of geological engineering solutions that permit road construction and urban and agricultural reconstruction to begin sooner than estimated by the cooling models. On the other hand, potential hazards arising from the eruption process have also been taken into account. Stability analyses of the 200 m high volcanic cone formed during the eruption indicate the possibility of failure in the event of heavy rain and consequently lahar hazards. The results of the investigations carried out and their applications to post-disaster reconstruction may be useful for other volcanic regions, contributing to minimizing risk to infrastructure and urban settlements.This research was supported by the projects “Recuperación Territorial La Palma” and “LP Agricultura” (Doc. nº 08zu4RDNfd2rsBXk2n5MalbMK_QLVySiG and 0gA9vJOeQiqk-N5Znt31B75_D2U3Y4CPu) financed by Canary Islands’ Autonomous Government through the Department of Ecological Transition, Fight Against Climate Change and Territorial Planning, and the General Directorate of Agriculture, respectively.Peer reviewedMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteGobierno de CanariasFerrer Gijón, María Mercedes [0000-0002-1331-2770]Lockwood, John P. [0000-0002-6529-4068]Miranda-Hardisson, Ana [0000-0003-2563-7078]Rodríguez Losada, José A. [0000-0001-9324-0983]Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los [0000-0002-8230-9874]Hernández Gutiérrez, Luis Enrique [0000-0002-9554-809X]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252024info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/377535https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85213448976reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Ingléshttps://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards5040052Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/3775352026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
title La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
spellingShingle La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
González de Vallejo, Luis I.
Volcanic geohazards
La Palma post-eruption reconstruction
Lava flows cooling rates
title_short La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
title_full La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
title_fullStr La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
title_full_unstemmed La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
title_sort La Palma 2021 Eruption (Canary Islands): Measurements and Modelling of Lava Flow Cooling Rates and Applications for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Risk Mitigation
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv González de Vallejo, Luis I.
Álvarez Hernández, Aaron
Ferrer Gijón, María Mercedes
Lockwood, John P.
Pérez, Nemesio M.
Hernández Pérez, Pedro A.
Miranda-Hardisson, Ana
Rodríguez Losada, José A.
Afonso Falcón, David
Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los
Páez Padilla, Javier
Hernández-Gutiérrez, Luis E.
author González de Vallejo, Luis I.
author_facet González de Vallejo, Luis I.
Álvarez Hernández, Aaron
Ferrer Gijón, María Mercedes
Lockwood, John P.
Pérez, Nemesio M.
Hernández Pérez, Pedro A.
Miranda-Hardisson, Ana
Rodríguez Losada, José A.
Afonso Falcón, David
Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los
Páez Padilla, Javier
Hernández-Gutiérrez, Luis E.
author_role author
author2 Álvarez Hernández, Aaron
Ferrer Gijón, María Mercedes
Lockwood, John P.
Pérez, Nemesio M.
Hernández Pérez, Pedro A.
Miranda-Hardisson, Ana
Rodríguez Losada, José A.
Afonso Falcón, David
Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los
Páez Padilla, Javier
Hernández-Gutiérrez, Luis E.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Gobierno de Canarias
Ferrer Gijón, María Mercedes [0000-0002-1331-2770]
Lockwood, John P. [0000-0002-6529-4068]
Miranda-Hardisson, Ana [0000-0003-2563-7078]
Rodríguez Losada, José A. [0000-0001-9324-0983]
Ríos Díaz, Héctor de los [0000-0002-8230-9874]
Hernández Gutiérrez, Luis Enrique [0000-0002-9554-809X]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Volcanic geohazards
La Palma post-eruption reconstruction
Lava flows cooling rates
topic Volcanic geohazards
La Palma post-eruption reconstruction
Lava flows cooling rates
description [EN] On 19 September 2021, a strombolian volcanic eruption began on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. This event resulted in the destruction of 73 km of roads, urban infrastructure, numerous houses, and agricultural crops, affecting approximately 7200 people and causing losses exceeding 1.2 billion euros. Around 12 km2 were covered by aa and pahoehoe lava flows, which reached thicknesses of over 70 m. Following the end of the eruption, thermal, geological, and geotechnical site investigations were carried out for the reconstruction and territorial and urban planning, with the main objectives focused on opening roads through hot lava, constructing new urban settlements in areas covered by lava flows, and facilitating the agricultural recovery. The primary challenges to reconstruction included the very slow cooling rate of the lava, resulting in persistent high temperatures, exceeding 500 °C, its highly heterogeneous geotechnical properties with numerous cavities and lava caves, and the presence of toxic gases. Site investigations included geotechnical boreholes, seismic geophysics and ground-penetration radar, and temperature measurements of lava flows using drones and thermocouple devices inside boreholes. To estimate the cooling rates of the lava flows, two physical cooling models were developed based on thermal behavior and geological–geotechnical data. The results indicated that lava cooling durations in some areas exceed practical waiting times for commencing reconstruction. This led to the development of geological engineering solutions that permit road construction and urban and agricultural reconstruction to begin sooner than estimated by the cooling models. On the other hand, potential hazards arising from the eruption process have also been taken into account. Stability analyses of the 200 m high volcanic cone formed during the eruption indicate the possibility of failure in the event of heavy rain and consequently lahar hazards. The results of the investigations carried out and their applications to post-disaster reconstruction may be useful for other volcanic regions, contributing to minimizing risk to infrastructure and urban settlements.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/377535
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85213448976
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/377535
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85213448976
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards5040052

dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869417898504617984
score 15.81155