BJ Deming

Nevado del Ruiz: June 1, 1647 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, June 1, 9:47 a.m., Pacific: Clouds have the summit socked in on the webcams, which also show high water in creeks coming off Ruiz — the area has gotten heavy rains.

This layperson sees more activity on the helicorders, but no new VAAC advisories are up since yesterday.

From SGC’s morning bulletin, with emphasis by SGC or me:

From 09:00 a.m. from yesterday (May 31) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity seismic activity related to the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits decreased slightly in the number of earthquakes and increased in the seismic energy released compared to 30 of May. Some seismic signals were possibly associated with pulsatile emissions of ash, but there was no confirmation via the web cameras used for monitoring volcanic, due to unfavorable weather conditions in the area.

Likewise, seismic activity associated with rock fracturing inside the volcanic efifice was recorded, which showed similar levels in the number of earthquakes and seismic energy with respect to the May 30. The earthquakes were located mainly in the northeast and southeast sectors of the volcano, at a maximum distance of 7 km from the crater, and at depths between 3 and 4 km. In lesser proportion, seismicity was recorded in the Arenas crater. The magnitudes of the earthquakes were low.

Regarding surface activity, the maximum height of the column of gases and/or ash was 700 m measured from the top of the volcano and continues to present a preferential direction of dispersion to the northwest of the volcanic edifice. Additionally, variable degassing is maintained of sulfur dioxide (SO2) 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. Although several days have passed in which the seismic activity, in general, has
decreased compared to previous weeks, it is important to remember that 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 of activity and think that it is a normal activity of the volcano. Satellite detection of significant thermal anomalies at the bottom of the crater indicates the
presence of very hot material near the surface. Likewise, the output recurrence of ash sometimes pulsatile and sometimes more continuous, the persistence of a slight deformation terrain, and decreased sulfur dioxide output, indicate that the volcano could still make a major eruption in days or weeks.

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 there will be a larger eruption than it has done 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, reason for which warns that the level of activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano will remain at LEVEL ORANGE for several weeks. During this time, in the event of an acceleration of processes that suggest an imminent eruption or that the eruption itself occurs, the level of activity will be changed to Red.

We recommend that the community remain calm, follow all the instructions of the Unit National 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 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

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