Inaccessible tunnels and new caves in the area devastated by the volcano of La Palma
Context
This piece follows scientific exploration of the volcanic tube system formed after the La Palma eruption, where extreme internal temperatures still limit access. I used cartographic context and explanatory graphics to connect underground structures with the surface landscape transformed by lava flows.
My role
- Cartography
- Data analysis
I led the geospatial analysis and visual implementation, producing both the volumetric-difference layer and the cartographic narrative used to explain the eruption's physical footprint.
Data and methodology
The core analysis compared pre- and post-eruption digital terrain models to derive an elevation-difference surface representing newly deposited volcanic material.
I iterated the workflow against published scientific references, including the related Nature dataset paper, to validate assumptions and approach quality before publication.
Key decisions
- I chose an oblique 3D rendering in Blender to make the volume and shape of deposited material immediately understandable.
- The piece combined this 3D perspective with an annotated map layer to connect scientific measurement with place-based interpretation.
- Visual simplification focused on contextual labels and key geomorphological cues rather than dense technical symbology.
Result
The final story provided a clear visual estimate of the eruption's surface impact and helped readers understand the scale of volcanic deposition beyond headline figures.
Impact and learnings
- The article performed well in readership and became a strong applied example of terrain-difference analysis in explanatory journalism.
- It also advanced my Blender + geodata workflow, especially for turning derived raster products into high-legibility oblique views.