Scientists Increase Volcanic Monitoring in Tenerife Following Seismic Activity

The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has stepped up volcanic monitoring in Tenerife following a series of unusual geological signals recorded since early 2026. Experts are now conducting more frequent fieldwork in Teide National Park to better understand the volcano's internal activity.

The increased monitoring began after control stations detected long, continuous seismic pulses in February. This was followed by a series of small earthquakes that, in a short time, surpassed the total number recorded over the previous decade. While this activity has since quieted down, scientists remain cautious, investigating whether these movements could indicate shifting magma deep underground.

To investigate further, IGN researchers—including Jorge Pereda, Francisco Sánchez, and Víctor Cabrera—are using portable gravimeters to measure changes in the gravitational field, which helps detect potential magma movement. These manual checks work alongside a permanent network of automated sensors, including GNSS technology and inclinometers.

Data shows the ground has shifted by about one centimeter per year since 2023, totaling roughly two centimeters over the last three years. Specialists note that these figures are well below the critical levels seen before past eruptions, such as the 2021 event in La Palma, where ground deformation reached 30 centimeters in just one week.

Supported by a seismometer network that has been in place since 2004, the island is under constant, real-time observation. Despite the recent activity, experts emphasize that there is no sign of an imminent eruption. They view these signals as part of the island’s complex, ongoing geological processes, which continue to be monitored through one of the world’s most rigorous volcanic surveillance programs.