Scientists are amazed at the bottom of the sea on La Palma

eleven months They have already passed Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption On the island of La Palma. A volcanic eruption that lasted four months and destroyed residential buildings, land, crops and everything in its path. However, the scenario almost a year after the end of the eruption is fundamentally different from the end of last year.

This was announced by scientists from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), organizations dependent on the Ministry of Science and Innovation, who highlight the restoration of the seabed on Palm Island as a completely positive aspect. “The The rapid colonization of the new substrate and the resilience of some species were surprising, “EFE“.

In this way, the researchers analyzed how algae colonized the new Tajogaite lava surfaces. The formation of a new lava delta, which was covered by both, was confirmed Annual and fast growing algae Corresponding to the genera “Lophocladia”, “Cotoniella”, and “Dyctiota”, as well Lime moss cladding That covered a lot of new substrate. Even black corals survived, although they are a slow-growing species and were found near lava.

In addition to plant species, the sea floor of La Palma has largely recovered some marine species such as Hedgehogs, crustaceans and other types of fish. “Observing the evolution of this new substrate will allow us to know its dynamics from the outset and to study the role that neighboring communities play in the rate of colonization,” Diaz said.

Assessment of the sea floor in La Palma is part of a project I have carried out IEO researcherswhich was also carried out by A Assessment of the marine habitats of the entire Mediterranean coast as well as the South Atlantic Spanish. The research work includes more than 75 dives in 45 days between the provinces of Girona and Huelva, including Ceuta and the island of Alboran.

Volcano Tracking

During this year, some 200 researchers from the general sciences system participated in the follow-up process of the eruption of La Palma volcano, and analysis of its consequences on both the land and the sea floor of the Canary Island. During the eruption process, with a Explosiveness index 3, 8652 earthquakes reached overallbeing the densest at 5.1 at a depth of 36 kilometers.