A slight uplift of the ground recorded since 2023 in the Teide area has led volcanologists to intensify their monitoring of Tenerife’s geological activity.
While the phenomenon does not currently indicate an immediate risk of eruption, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining vigilance to better understand the island’s volcanic system.
Since 2016, seismic activity and other geological signals on the island have shown a gradual intensification. However, from 2022 onward, this trend appears to have accelerated, resulting in ground deformation that, in some areas, has reached a maximum uplift of one centimeter.
Although this figure is at the limit of instrumental detectability, it has been confirmed by the team at the National Geographic Institute (IGN), which has ruled out a direct magmatic origin for the phenomenon.
Instead, they attribute it to a possible adjustment within the volcanic system.
According to experts, the observed uplift is not comparable to the rapid and significant deformations that typically precede volcanic eruptions, such as those recorded in La Palma in 2021, where the ground rose by tens of centimeters in just a few days.
Nonetheless, the phenomenon requires continuous monitoring, especially given the increasing frequency of seismic swarms recorded in the area in recent years.
"Even though measurements can be influenced by external factors, we are certain that this deformation is real and linked to deep underground processes," explained Itahiza Domínguez, director of the IGN for the Canary Islands.
To better anticipate potential future scenarios, the IGN plans to enhance monitoring by installing more advanced instruments, including inclinometers capable of detecting imperceptible ground movements up to a depth of 30 meters.
Experts remind us that volcanic activity in Tenerife follows long and often unpredictable cycles. Any pre-eruptive signals could appear years before a significant event or might never lead to an eruption at all.
Nevertheless, efforts are underway to improve preparedness measures and raise public awareness through drills and simulations.
"We cannot predict when and how a new eruption will occur, but we know that being prepared is essential," Domínguez emphasized.
Possible scenarios include basaltic eruptions, like the one in La Palma, or even a more significant event linked to Teide itself.
While the latter scenario is less likely, it cannot be ruled out entirely.
In conclusion, the slight uplift recorded at Teide serves as a reminder of the ever-present volcanic activity in the Canary Islands but should not cause excessive alarm.
Instead, it presents an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the island’s complex underground mechanisms while ensuring the safety and preparedness of the local community.
1909: The Last Eruption of Teide
The last eruption of Mount Teide occurred in 1909 in the Chinyero area, on the northwestern slope of Tenerife.
The eruption began on November 18 and lasted for ten days, ending on November 28.
Although the basaltic lava flows extended for several kilometers, they did not reach inhabited areas, preventing casualties and significant damage to infrastructure.
However, volcanic ash and lava flows caused damage to local agriculture, affecting cultivated lands.
Today, the 1909 lava flows remain visible and serve as a point of interest for tourists and researchers, reminding us that despite being dormant for over a century, Teide is still an active volcano under close surveillance.