BJ Deming

Nevado del Ruiz: June 3, 2059 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 3, 1:59 p.m., Pacific: I was offline yesterday, but the June 2 SGC bulletin was very similar to recent ones, with the usual minor changes, up and/or down, noted in the volcano’s monitored signs.

I didn’t read last night’s SGC tweet on Ruiz (Spanish) until after reading this morning’s bulletin.

Today’s bulletin wording is much different from previous recent ones, although the alert level remains at ORANGE.

Emphasis is by SGC:

From 09:00 a.m. from yesterday (June 2) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity seismic related to the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits increased in the number of earthquakes and showed similar seismic energy levels, compared to June 2. Some of the seismic signals were associated with confirmed pulsatile ash emissions at through the web cameras used for volcanic monitoring.

On the other hand, compared to June 2, the seismicity associated with rock fracturing at the interior of the volcanic edifice decreased in the number of earthquakes and in the seismic energy. The earthquakes were located in the Arenas crater and, dispersedly, in various sectors of the volcano, up to a maximum distance of 9 km from the crater. The depths of the earthquakes ranged from 1 to 6 km. The maximum magnitude registered was 1.0 corresponding to the earthquake registered today at 04:22 a.m., located 3.4 km to the west-northwest of the Arenas crater, at a depth of 5 km from the top of the volcano.

Regarding surface activity, the maximum height of the gas and/or ash column was 1100 m measured from the top of the volcano. This continued to show a preferential direction of dispersion towards the northwest of the volcanic edifice. Additionally, there were variations 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. 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 recurrence of ash output sometimes pulsating and sometimes more continuously, the persistence of a slight deformation of the terrain, and variations in sulfur dioxide output indicate that the volcano could still make a major eruption over days or weeks. It is also necessary to mention that sometimes previously, after presenting important changes in its activity, the volcano Nevado del Ruiz has shown a decrease in its activity before a major eruption. That is to say, first it registers a strong increase in its activity, then a considerable decrease and, later, makes a major eruption.

Therefore, we reiterate that the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano continues at ORANGE LEVEL, which which indicates that there is a probability that in days or weeks there will be a larger eruption than has done in the last 10 years. To change levels and return to Yellow level requires a prudential time where trends and patterns can be observed that allow inferring 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 the eruption itself, 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

This is from Civil Defense Tolima volunteer Giovanni Naranjo Gutiérrez:

https://youtu.be/4LZahDaqgFM&rel=0

That plume evidently contains some SO2 per TROPOMI within the hour:

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

That is by no means at, say, Popocatépetl level, but this is not necessarily a good sign, as the SGC does point out now and then.

[LAYPERSON SPECULATION]The presence of sulfur dioxide means magma is close to the surface — no surprise at Ruiz just now — but the low level could mean that the conduit is blocked, which would definitely be bad.[/LAYPERSON SPECULATION]

Presently the summit is obscured and no ash advisory is in effect on the Nevado del Ruiz VAAC page, but you’ll see some from earlier today in the archive.

We’ll see how it goes.

Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock

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