BJ Deming

Nevado del Ruiz: June 6, 1800 UTC

  • Status: Orange, but —

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    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 6, 11:00 a.m., Pacific: A mostly cloud-obscured view of Ruiz this morning, but Jhon/VIDJCB collected some views for his video.

The summit, where glimpsed, does appear nevado, and there hasn’t been an ash advisory in effect since around midday yesterday, local time.

As always, he is reading the current SGC bulletin.

Here is the gist in English via Google Translate, with emphasis by SGC:

From 9:00 a.m. yesterday (June 5) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity seismic associated with the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits showed levels similar in the number of earthquakes and a slight increase in seismic energy, in relation to the previous day (5 of June). Some of the seismic signals were associated with pulsatile ash emissions confirmed through the web cameras used for volcanic monitoring. Also, small earthquakes were recorded, albeit to a low extent, in the Arenas crater, which are associated with the dynamics of the dome (bulge or mound) of lava located at the bottom of the crater.

Regarding the seismicity related to rock fracturing inside the volcanic structure, activity decreased in the number of earthquakes and in seismic energy compared to June 5. The earthquakes were of low energy and were located in the Arenas crater and in the northeastern sector (the latter at a maximum distance of 4 km from the crater). The depths ranged from 2 and 6 km.

On the other hand, the variations in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and the output of water vapor and ash from the crater to the atmosphere. The maximum observed height of the column of gases and steam was 200 m measured from the top of the volcano and the preferential direction of dispersion was maintained towards the northwest of the volcanic edifice.

The activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano continues to be very unstable. Although it has been several days in which the seismic activity, in general, has decreased with respect 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 in activity and think that it is a normal behavior 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. It is very important to note that the recurrence of ash output, sometimes pulsatile and sometimes more continuous, the persistence of a slight deformation of the terrain, as well as variations in the output of sulfur dioxide, indicate that the volcano could still make a major eruption in days or weeks. as we have mentioned, on previous occasions, after presenting important changes in its activity, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano has shown a decrease in its activity before an eruption important. That is, first it registers a strong increase in its activity, then a decrease considerable and, subsequently, makes a major eruption.

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 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

Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock

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