GeoPULSE Consortium Meets in Lanzarote for First Stakeholder Workshop

The first day of the GeoPULSE workshop focused on gathering feedback from champion users and stakeholders involved in geothermal exploration and resource management.

Participants discussed how Earth Observation and remote sensing technologies can support geothermal investigations, improve knowledge of subsurface processes and contribute to more informed decision-making. The sessions also explored user requirements for future GeoPULSE products, including accessibility, reliability and the communication of uncertainty in geospatial information.

The feedback collected during the workshop will play an important role in shaping the next stages of project development and ensuring that GeoPULSE solutions address the needs of the geothermal community.

Participants during a session of the first GeoPULSE Stakeholder Workshop, held at the Cabildo de Lanzarote on 19 May 2026. Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote.

A field visit was organised on 20 May to several areas of geothermal interest in Lanzarote, including Timanfaya National Park and the La Geria region. The visit provided participants with a valuable opportunity to observe volcanic landscapes, thermal manifestations and other geological features that make Lanzarote an important natural laboratory for geothermal research.

During the visit, consortium members, champion users and stakeholders discussed the challenges of identifying geothermal indicators in volcanic environments and explored how Earth Observation data can support the detection and characterisation of geothermal surface manifestations. Particular attention was given to the relationship between geological processes, surface thermal anomalies and the satellite-derived variables that GeoPULSE aims to integrate into its methodologies.

The field excursion also enabled participants to exchange perspectives on the practical requirements for geothermal resource assessment and to examine potential sites that may contribute to the validation of GeoPULSE products. These discussions provided valuable context for linking field observations with satellite-based analyses and future project developments.

Participants in the first GeoPULSE Stakeholder Workshop during the field visit to Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands constitute one of the project's key study areas, with particular emphasis on Lanzarote and La Palma. Their contrasting volcanic landscapes, diverse geomorphology and surface thermal manifestations provide an excellent natural laboratory for testing and validating innovative Earth Observation approaches for geothermal resource assessment.

The region offers a unique combination of recent volcanic activity, low cloud cover conditions and well-preserved geothermal surface indicators, creating favourable conditions for the development and evaluation of remote sensing methodologies. These characteristics make the Canary Islands an ideal environment for investigating how satellite observations can support the identification and characterisation of geothermal resources in volcanic settings.

The insights gathered during the workshop and field visit will contribute to the ongoing development of GeoPULSE products and services, ensuring that they are both scientifically robust and aligned with user needs. The workshop marked an important milestone for GeoPULSE, strengthening collaboration between consortium partners, champion users and local stakeholders while providing valuable input for the next phases of project development. The discussions and field observations carried out in Lanzarote will help guide the refinement and validation of GeoPULSE methodologies and products in the coming months.