- Status: Orange.
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Live stream via Telecafe:
Weather permitting. Also, here are links to still-image webcams, public data, and other information.
- Interactive official hazard map (autotranslated), via Relief Web; En español
- Update archive.
Update, June 23, 12:30 p.m., Pacific: No ash advisory is in place at present, but there were some posted overnight.
The news source Pulzo has some nice views of Ruiz this morning. They sum up today’s bulletin, the English text of which follows (via Google Translate), with emphasis by both SGC and me:
https://youtu.be/44QPlpHQ_UI&rel=0
Manizales, June 23, 2023 11:50 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 22) until the time of publication of this bulletin, the activity of the volcano continues to show variations, especially in seismicity and surface activity related to this.
Regarding June 21, the seismic activity related to the movement of fluids within volcanic conduits presented an increase in the number and in the seismic energy of the signals associated with pulsatile ash emissions and/or incandescence. These signals have prevailed from yesterday at 06:30 p.m. and today’s one at 06:09 a.m. stands out, since it is one of the signs of this type with the highest seismic energy recorded since March 24. Through webcams used for volcanic monitoring, it was possible to confirm the output of gases and ash from the Arenas crater to the atmosphere associated with these signals.
The seismicity associated with the fracturing of the rock inside the volcanic edifice increased slightly in the number of earthquakes and maintained similar levels in seismic energy, in comparison with June 21. The earthquakes were located mainly in the south-southwestern and northeastern sectors, at distances between 1 and 5 km from the crater and, to a lesser extent, in other parts of the volcano. In general, the earthquakes were of low energy and with depths ranged from 2 to 6 km.
Regarding the superficial activity in the volcano, the column of gases, steam and/or ash reached a maximum height in the vertical of 600 m and in dispersion of 900 m, both values measured from the top of the volcano. The preferential direction of dispersion of the column was towards the northwest of the volcanic structure. Yesterday, June 22, at night there was a report of ash fall in the Nereidas sector (upper part of the municipality of Villamaría, Caldas).
Additionally, the variations in the degassing of sulfur dioxide and the output of water vapor from the crater into the atmosphere continued. The other monitored parameters presented minor variations.
Although in recent weeks the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano had begun to show signs of decrease, in the last seven days there has been an increase compared to weeks and therefore remains unstable The volcano has not returned to its normal levels of activity and 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 important eruption. That is, first it registers a strong increase in its activity, then a considerable decrease 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 made in the last 11 years (May 29, 2012 was the first minor eruption of this volcano did in its most recent eruptive process).
To change level and return to Yellow, a prudential time is required where you can observe trends and patterns that allow inferring the possible decrease in activity, aspects which is not yet possible to confirm. For this reason, following the precautionary principle, the level of Nevado del Ruiz volcano activity will remain at ORANGE LEVEL. During this time, in the event that there is an acceleration of the processes that suggest an imminent eruption or before the eruption itself occurs, the activity level 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
Flight To Wonder 