- Status: Orange.
- 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 16, 10:50 a.m., Pacific: The volcano is still at ORANGE, and yesterday TROPOMI noted an SO2 emission.
An ash advisory was issued, too.
In today’s bulletin (below; emphasis in the original), they note that Ruiz had a higher-than-usual plume up to 2 km and light ashfall was reported in Manizales:
Manizales, June 16, 2023 10:25 a.m.
From the monitoring of the activity of the NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO, the MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY through the COLOMBIAN GEOLOGICAL SERVICE (SGC) informs that:
From 9:00 a.m. from yesterday (June 15) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity of this volcano, in general terms, continues to show low levels with minor variations. Seismicity related to the movement of fluids inside the volcanic conduits increased in the number of earthquakes and in seismic energy, compared to the previous day (June 14). Some of the seismic signals were associated with confirmed pulsatile ash emissions at through the web cameras used for volcanic monitoring.
Regarding the seismicity associated with the fracturing of rock within the volcanic structure, this decreased in the number of earthquakes and in seismic energy compared to June 14. The earthquakes were located in the Arenas crater and in the southwestern to western-southwestern sector of the volcano, at a maximum distance of 7 km from the crater. The depths of the earthquakes ranged between 1 and 5 km from the top of the volcano.
Regarding the monitoring of surface activity, the column of gases, steam and/or ash presented a maximum height of around 2000 m measured from the top of the volcano (something that did not occur days ago) and a preferential direction of dispersion towards the northwest of the volcanic edifice. Yesterday, June 15, in the early hours of the night, there was a slight ash fall in Manizales. Additionally, the variations in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and the output of water vapor from the crater to the atmosphere continued.
The activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, although still unstable, has begun to show signs of decline. It is important to remember that this does not imply that the volcano has returned to its normal activity levels. Despite the decrease in activity, it could still do 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 decreased activity before a major eruption. That is, first is recorded a sharp increase in its activity, then a considerable decrease, and then it 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 the volcano has done in the last 10 years. To change level and return to Yellow, a period of time is required where trends and patterns can be observed that allow inferring the possible decrease in activity, aspects that cannot yet be confirmed. For this reason, following the precautionary principle, the level of activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano will remain at LEVEL ORANGE. During this time, in the event of an acceleration of the processes that suggest an imminent eruption or the eruption itself, the level of activity will change 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
Late yesterday, SGC released an extended video about the current state of Ruiz in which, among other topics, Dr. Makario Londoño tackles the challenge of probability, per my transcript translator — something that us laypeople don’t especially want to hear.
At any volcano, we just want to know, “Will it erupt? It won’t erupt?”
The boffins can never give us a yes-or-no answer, because volcanoes are incredibly complex. So everyone must endure the long, costly ROCK🔁HARD PLACE wait.
If you understand Spanish or have a translator (am currently using Lingo Tube, which works with the YouTube app), the video below is also well worth watching because he gets into details of this unrest like magma movement, energy release, comparisons with other volcanoes, etc.
When Taal, in the Philippines, erupted in January 2020, PHIVOLCS went from Level 1 to Level 4 in just a few hours.
Featured image: Ric Photography/Shutterstock
Flight To Wonder 