After the earthquake last month and the eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico, many people wondered if there was a relationship between the two. The experts at the time denied it. One of the main reasons was the distance that existed between the epicenter of the earthquake and the volcano itself. Hundreds of kilometers that a priori, seemed not to indicate a relationship, so it was rejected. Despite this, he is still curious, and now a new expert speaks of the possibility that this is the case.
We talk about Carlos Demetrio Escobar, a Salvadoran volcanologist who refutes this previous hypothesis. Based on their observations, the large amount of energy that is generated in an earthquake is evident. Taking into account this strong earthquake, it can even cause an active volcano to gain more power. Not only that, he also pointed out that an earthquake close to a volcanic mountain range can be an indicator of the activity of an active volcano.
Volcanoes and earthquakes, their relationships
The eruption of a volcano is part of the consequence of the increase in temperatures in the magma. Magma, found within the Earth's mantle, could be heated by the shaking of an earthquake. Carlos Demetrio, explains that this would be one of the causes that would cause the eruption after the tremors. The magmatic cavity, the place where molten rock from an active volcano accumulates, would take more power. This would translate into higher pressure, which in the end would evoke a higher probability of eruption.
According to the expert, an active volcano is one that we can consider to have the necessary power to present eruptions, or that has done them before at least in the last 500 years. That would actually raise the number of "active volcanoes."
Escobar, what he did want to make clear at all times was that do not relate earthquakes and volcanoes, it is very hasty. Above all, taking into account that the "morphology" of both is very similar. One can feed or provoke the other.