The displacement of the volcanic processes towards the ocean in The Hierro Island drives a request on the 12th October to activate the monitoring and sampling of the marine environment, to be able to contribute with information to have a better tracking and knowledge on the process.

Having made a first approach, it is concluded that the mobilisation of the aprópiate means from the peninsula will need at least a week as the best option; hence, it was assessed if using the RV Prof. I. Lozano with the available analysis and sampling possibilities, could be worth doing.

The consultations made to the experts confirm the use, in spite of the resources limitations, and consequently the Canary Islands Agency of Resaerch, Innovation and Society of Information (ACIISI) takes the decision to mobilise the Vessel and the available personnel and instrumental resources, entrusting the logistic coordination to the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN).

During the 12th of October 2011, the necessary management procedures are carried out, and in consequence the Canary Islands Institute of Marine Sciences (ICCM) urgently begins the vessel start and the crew mobilisation. In this way, the vessel finally manages to leave her base in the Taliarte harbour the 13th October at 20:00 UTC.

The sampling and analysis needs of the scientific teams from the National Geographic Institute (IGN), the University of las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the University of la Laguna (ULL) and the Technological and Renewable Energies Institute (ITER) are gathered in the process, establishing the contact and coordination mechanisms necessary for the running of the operations.

On October 14th around 14:00 UTC the vessel arrives to the Estaca harbour after a tough crossing, being available to begin the needed scientific and technical tasks.

Following several meetings with the representatives of the scientific institutions and the Direction of Security and Emergency from the Government of the Canary Islands, it is concluded that at first all the works will be carried out at first only during daytime. Each work specific plan will be prepared the night before to fit it into the needs and possibilities.

Therefore it is decided -bearing in mind the risks and being the first approach to this mission- that it is convenient to start the cruise on October 15th early in the morning with the following team and working plan:

OPERATIONAL PLAN FORESEEN for the 15th October of 2011

SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL TO GO ONBOARD

PRESS PERSONNEL GOING ONBOARDPERSONAL :

• VESSEL: PROFESSOR IGNACIO LOZANO
• DEPART TIME: 6 AM
• BASE PORT: LA ESTACA (El Hierro Island)
• WORKING TIME: 8 AM - 8 PM
• RUTE: LA ESTACA HARBOUR- SEA OF CALMS -LA ESTACA HARBOUR
• MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN HARBOUR AND WORKING AREA: 10 NAUTICAL MILES (1.5 hours of navigation )

WORKING PLAN:

2.- Depending on the XBT profiles carried out, repeat the transect with the CTD device (CTD, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll ‘a’, Photosynthetic Available Radiation PAR).

3.- According to the results obtained in the second point, to sketch a network of points to carry out hydrological sampling (same parameters than in point 2 plus alkalinity and dissolved gas).

4.- It is also intended to recover the death organisms from the surface (fish, algae, corals...), solid material, etc.