BJ Deming

Nevado del Ruiz: May 30, 1657 UTC

  • Status: Orange, but —

    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 30, 9:57 a.m., Pacific: TROPOMI satellite observations noted some SO2 in the Ruiz area yesterday —

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

— but no new VAAC advisories are up since the 26th.

The summit is almost totally hidden by weather clouds, as you can see in Jhon/VIDJCB’s daily video below, and that must have been the case last night, too, since I could see nothing through the available cams here, while bright moonlight shone on Popocatépetl, farther north and west.

As usual, he reads the SGC bulletin, which I have run through Google Translate and posted underneath the video (emphasis added by SGC or me):

https://youtu.be/AsKIJCwGzeo&rel=0

From 9:00 a.m. yesterday (May 29) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the seismic activity related to the movement of fluids and that associated with rock fracturing, both inside the volcanic edifice, showed similar levels in the number of registered earthquakes and in the seismic energy released, compared to May 28. The earthquakes were located mainly in the Arenas crater and to the northeast and southwest of it, at an approximate distance of up to 5 km from it, and at depths between 1 and 4 km. The magnitudes of the earthquakes remained low.

Regarding the monitoring of the surface activity of the volcano that we do through web cameras, it was not possible to confirm ash emissions associated with some of the seismic signals recorded, due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions in the area. The maximum height of the column of gases and steam reached 700 m measured from the top of the volcano and showed a preferential dispersion direction towards the northwest of it. On the other hand, variations continue in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and the release of water vapor from the crater into the atmosphere.

It is important to note that the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano is still very 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, which is why it is warned that the activity level 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 be attentive to the evolution of the volcanic phenomenon and will inform opportunely about the changes that may occur.

For more information visit the following link:
https://www2.sgc.gov.co/Noticias/boletinesDocumentos/Forms/AllItems.aspx

For two months, the volcano has kept everyone on edge and situated in ROCK🔁HARD PLACE — and the watch continues.

This was recorded earlier; as I understand the situation, soldiers are up there because of the overall security situation, as well as to monitor volcanic unrest.

https://youtu.be/NdQ6auAjoC4&rel=0

Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock

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