- Status: Orange, but —
El nivel de actividad naranja 🔶 del VNR nos indica que debemos estar preparados para una posible erupción de magnitud considerable. Como existe la probabilidad de que el volcán alcance el nivel de actividad rojo, este es el momento de tomar medidas de prevención⛑️ pic.twitter.com/jRoZPkXZEG
— Servicio GeolĂłgico Colombiano (@sgcol) May 1, 2023
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The take-away here: Ruiz might wind up steadily, if that’s on its agenda, or it might just give them a few minutes’ notice before the “big one.”
- Interactive official hazard map (autotranslated), via Relief Web; En español
- USAID April 4th map (autotranslated) posted on May 18 at Relief Web.
- Links to webcams, public data, and other information.
- Update archive.
Update, May 22, 10:04 a.m., Pacific: Other than slight increases in some parameters, there really isn’t much change in today’s SGC bulletin on this mostly weather-obscured volcano.
Here is Jhon/VIDJCB’s morning video:
As always, he reads the bulletin — here is the gist via Google Translate (emphasis either by SGC or me; also, I’ve added in the current VAAC advisory):
From 9:00 a.m. yesterday (May 21) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the seismicity associated with rock fracturing inside the volcanic edifice showed a decrease in the number of earthquakes and an increase in the seismic energy released, compared to the previous day ( May 20th). This seismicity was located in the north, northeast, and southwest sectors of the volcano and in the Arenas crater, at a maximum distance of 6 km from it and at depths between 1 and 7 km.
On the other hand, the seismic activity related to the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits presented an increase in the number of earthquakes and continued showing levels of seismic energy released similar to those of the previous day (May 20). Some of the seismic signals were associated with pulsatile ash emissions confirmed through the web cameras used for volcanic monitoring.
Most recent VAAC advisory:
FVXX21 KNES 221252
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20230522/1252Z
VAAC: WASHINGTON
VOLCANO: RUIZ 351020
PSN: N0453 W07519
AREA: COLOMBIA
SUMMIT ELEV: 17319 FT (5279 M)
ADVISORY NR: 2023/295
INFO SOURCE: GOES-16. VONA. WEBCAM. NWP MODELS.
ERUPTION DETAILS: NEW VAM EMS
OBS VA DTG: 22/1230Z
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL210 N0504 W07513 – N0459 W07508
– N0453 W07517 – N0453 W07520 – N0504 W07513 MOV
NE 15KT
FCST VA CLD +6HR: 22/1830Z SFC/FL210 N0513 W07505
– N0505 W07501 – N0452 W07519 – N0453 W07519 –
N0513 W07505
FCST VA CLD +12HR: 23/0030Z NO VA EXP
FCST VA CLD +18HR: 23/0630Z NO VA EXP
RMK: VA NOT DETECTED ON STLT DUE TO WX CLDS IN
SUMMIT AREA. VONA INDICATES VA EMS AND WEBCAM
CONFIRMS. NO CHG FCST TO MDL WINDS AT FL NXT 6
HR. …KONON
NXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 20230522/1845Z
Regarding surface activity, the maximum height of the gas and/or ash column ranged between 700 and 1300 m measured from the top of the volcano. The preferential direction of dispersal varied from the northwest to the southwest and, occasionally, it was towards the northeast. Variations in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and the release of water vapor from the crater into the atmosphere continue.
All these indicators ratify what the SGC has reiterated: the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano continues to be highly unstable. It is possible that the levels of seismic activity, as well as the levels of degassing or ash output, decrease or be oscillating, in the sense of increasing on some days and decreasing on others. However, this does not imply that the volcano has returned to its normal levels of activity, so it is recommended not to get used to these oscillating changes in activity and think that it is a normal activity of the volcano.
Therefore, we reiterate that the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano continues at ORANGE LEVEL, which indicates that there is a probability that in days or weeks it will erupt more than it has in the last 10 years. To change the level and return to the Yellow level, a prudential time is required where trends and patterns can be observed that allow us to infer the possible decrease in activity, aspects that the current activity of the volcano still does not show. For this reason, we warn that the level of activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano will remain at ORANGE LEVEL for several weeks. During this time, in the event of an acceleration of processes suggesting an imminent eruption or the eruption itself occurring, the activity level will be changed to Red.
We recommend that the community remain calm, follow all the instructions of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and local authorities, and be attentive to the information provided by the Colombian Geological Service on the evolution of the state of the volcano.
The level of activity of the volcano remains at ORANGE LEVEL of activity or (II): PROBABLE ERUPTION IN TERMS OF DAYS OR WEEKS.
The COLOMBIAN GEOLOGICAL SERVICE will continue to monitor the evolution of the volcanic phenomenon and will inform in a timely manner about the changes that may occur.
For more information visit the following link:
https://www2.sgc.gov.co/Noticias/boletinesDocumentos/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock
Flight To Wonder 