Teide - Future Eruption

Future Eruption

Future eruptions may include pyroclastic flows and surges similar to those that occurred at Mount Pelée, Merapi, Vesuvius, Etna, Soufrière Hills, Mount Unzen and elsewhere. During 2003, there was an increase in seismic activity at the volcano. Such activity indicate magma rising into the edifice, but is not always a precursor to an eruption.

Teide is considered unstable and has a distinctive bulge on its northern flank. This bulge is not believed to be associated with an influx of magma, but stems from a slow northwards collapse of the edifice. Seismic evidence suggests that Teide may be constructed over the headwall scarp of the infilled Icod Valley, a massive landslide valley formed by an edifice failure similar to those which produced the Güímar and Orotava Valleys. The summit of the volcano has a number of small active fumaroles emitting sulfur dioxide and other gases, including low levels of hydrogen sulfide.