Geological Hazards in the Teide Volcanic Complex

Abstract

The island of Tenerife displays contrasted densities of population, from the densely occupied coastal zones (including tourist resorts, airport, energy facilities, etc.) to the sparsely populated forests and mountainous highlands, where most of the recent volcanic events are located. Considering the low frequency of historical eruptions (compared to Hawaii or Reunion Island for example), the assessment of geological hazards must also rely on the analysis and interpretation of prehistorical events, going back to at least the Late Quaternary. In this chapter, we review the hazards related to Teide’s volcanism, but also those from increased seismicity and from slope instability. We discuss the origin of low magnitude earthquakes, and particularly the 2004 episode of unrest. New estimates on cumulative volumes for resurfacing by lava flows during the last few thousand years are provided to serve as a tool for building a lava flow hazard map of Tenerife. Hazards related to explosive activity are also considered and although possible, with phreatomagmatic eruptions being the most likely style anticipated, explosive events are of relatively low probability at Teide in the near future.