Furnas Lake water adds a new dimension to volcanic monitoring

Monitoring of the Furnas volcanic system on São Miguel now includes a continuous stream of data from the lake. A probe with seven sensors was installed last week to track the water's physical and chemical characteristics.

The instrument sends its measurements over a GSM connection to the Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (CIVISA), at the University of the Azores. Researchers from CIVISA and the university's Institute of Volcanology and Risk Assessment (IVAR) coordinated its installation.

Furnas Lake lies within an active volcanic system where hydrothermal processes can influence the water. Repeated measurements will allow researchers to study how the monitored parameters change over time and identify variations that warrant closer examination.

According to IVAR, changes detected in the water could help assess volcanic activity and support alerts when confirmed by other monitoring indicators. The new observations complement existing real-time information on seismicity, ground deformation and volcanic gases.

For the Furnas community and São Miguel, the installation adds a tool for research and surveillance of an active volcanic system. Interpreting its results will depend on comparing them with the other observations followed by the scientific teams.