PLOCAN facilitates the study of the impact of the La Palma volcano on the marine environment

PLOCAN, the Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS), is collaborating with the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (ULPGC) on a study of the La Palma volcano and its interaction with the marine environment. PLOCAN is uniquely positioned to provide the logistical and technological input to this partnership, enabling a research campaign that operates within close proximity to the new volcanic delta to investigate the impact of lava and ash intrusion into the water column.

There are a wide range of research groups from ULPGC involved in the study of the volcano, including Physical Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OFYGA), Marine Chemistry (QUIMA), Physical Oceanography (GOF), Regional Applied Geology (GEOGAR), Oceanography Biologica (GOB), and the Institute of Oceanography and Global Change (IOCAG). PLOCAN has made available the vessel PLOCAN DOS to all research groups. This vessel is equipped with innovative technical and scientific instrumentation such as the APNEA (Autonomous profiling expandable sampler), an autonomous profiler (https://www.plocan.eu/la-tecnologica-oceomic -test-with-success-an-autonomous-profiler-en-plocan /) made in the Canary Islands. This instrument which was acquired by the ICTS provides the wider scientific community water samples that can be obtained at different depths using just a small boat.

The ULPGC scientists also used other instruments such as CTD, and a multi-parameter probe, to measure essential ocean variables such as salinity, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen concentration.

The PLOCAN team and infrastructures are at the disposal of the wider scientific community, and oceanographic research campaigns such as this will be done regularly, enabling a long-term study of the impacts of the volcano on various aspects of the ocean such as biodiversity, biology, chemistry, physics, and geology.

 


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