Tenerife (Spain): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Tenerife, located in Spain, is a stratovolcano situated in an intraplate or oceanic crust setting less than 15 km deep, with an elevation of 3,715 meters. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a total of 42 confirmed eruptions spanning from its earliest recorded year of 7550 BCE through 1909 CE.

Official records document activity across various flanks and rift zones, including the northwest rift zone, Montañas Negras, Montaña Blanca, Pico Viejo, and Chinyero. The historical record captures multiple dating methods and evidence types, ranging from early tephrochronology and calibrated carbon-14 isotopic dating to direct historical reporting.

Overview of Recorded Eruptions

The 42 confirmed eruptions recorded for Tenerife encompass a wide range of eruption styles and sizes, with a maximum recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0. Among the recorded events are:

• 7550 BCE (?): An early confirmed eruption in the NW rift zone (Montañas Negras) identified via tephrochronology correlation.
• 3960 BCE (±300 years): Activity on the Teide NE flank (upper Montaña Abejera) established through calibrated carbon-14 isotopic analysis.
• 1700 BCE (?): An eruption in the NW rift zone at Montaña Botija.
• 80 BCE (±40 years): An explosive event reaching VEI 4.0 at Montaña Blanca and Pico Viejo, determined via calibrated carbon-14 dating.
• 1909 CE: The latest confirmed eruption beginning on November 18, 1909, and ending on November 27, 1909, in the NW rift zone at Chinyero, with a recorded VEI of 2.0 based on reported observations.

Chronology and Measurement Context

The structured record for Tenerife spans millennia, illustrating episodic volcanism through diverse geological and historical investigation methods. Of the 42 confirmed eruptions, 6 include documented Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) observations, culminating in the largest recorded VEI of 4.0. The latest recorded eruption concluded on November 27, 1909.