RESEARCH TEAMS:
• Landscape changes following the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma
Project Leader:
Prof. Jerzy Makowski,
Team from the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw:
Prof. Maciej Jędrusik,
Anna Dudek, PhD,
Joanna Miętkiewska-Brynda, MA
Oliwier Zając, BSc
Team from the Department of Geography, University of La Laguna, Tenerife:
Prof. José Javier Dóniz-Páez
Prof. José-León Rodríguez
How did the volcanic eruption transform the landscapes of La Palma? The eruption of Tajogaite caused fundamental changes to part of the island’s landscape and to the lives of most of its inhabitants within 85 days. A team of researchers from Poland and Spain set out to identify the factors behind these landscape changes and assess their extent, depth and direction following one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in the Canary Islands during the 20th century.
The Tajogaite volcano, part of the Cumbre Vieja range on La Palma, erupted in September 2021, dramatically reshaping the western part of the island. In May 2023, a team of geographers from the University of Warsaw, in cooperation with colleagues from the University of La Laguna (Tenerife), conducted fieldwork to examine changes in cultural landscapes across areas that had been settled and developed prior to the eruption and are now affected by the disaster. The research included a desk analysis of textual and cartographic materials, including satellite imagery from the Sentinel-2 mission and PlanetScope nanosatellite constellation. Field observations were conducted and photographically documented. Interviews were held with individuals responsible for coordinating post-disaster response efforts—both managers and staff from local institutions. Key landscape-transforming factors included volcanic eruption products such as lava, lapilli and ash, as well as the presence of toxic gases and smoke and extremely high temperatures. Based on the collected material, the researchers distinguished three main landscape transformation scenarios. The first involved rejuvenation of the landforms in areas of original volcanic landscape. The second concerned the complete renaturalisation of the cultural landscape—its annihilation and reversion to a state prior to anthropogenic intervention The third scenario referred to the partial degradation of developed areas, where the eruption’s effects were less severe and the spatial layout could potentially be restored. A particularly striking phenomenon that drew the researchers’ attention were the so-called “landscape windows” and “landscape islands”—surviving enclaves containing remnants of buildings, roads and plantations surrounded by solidified lava. Their presence may become a foundation for future efforts aimed at reconstructing the island’s cultural landscape.
Upper graphics:
↑ The 2021 Tajogaite eruption on La Palma (photo: R.U. Gosálvez).
Lower graphics:
↑ FROM THE LEFT.
Satellite image taken by Sentinel-2A on 17 February 2022, following the Tajogaite eruption. The RGB composition includes bands: red (4), green (3) and blue (2). Legend: 1 – Tajogaite volcano, 2 – Volcanic ash, 3 – Lava flow, 4 – delta Pre-eruption coastline based on vectorisation of an image from 28 January 2021. Source: author’s elaboration based on Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/.
Houses partially buried under lava and covered in volcanic ash (photo: A. Dudek, M. Jędrusik, J. Makowski, J. Miętkiewska-Brynda, O. Zając). (Source: photos taken by the authors.)
A newly constructed road across still-hot lava flow (source: photos taken by the authors).
Formation of a lava delta (photo: J. Dóniz-Páez).
RESEARCH LOCATION: Spain (ISLAND OF LA PALMA)