Photo Credit: Dr. Pablo Ruiz
Turrialba, Poás and Rincón de la Vieja volcanoes have continued to register activity on and off throughout all week, with several eruptions sometimes including ash but mostly consisting in gases and steam.
The eruptions registered in Poás volcano are non-explosive but extend for long periods of time presenting internal seismic activity and low frequency tremor that are consistent with movement of fluid within the volcano. The aerial photographs and images show the presence of a small pyroclastic cone which is from where the ashes and eruptive activity originate; there’s also a yellowish emission from a new fumarole associated with high levels of sulfur.

The Turrialba volcano had a peak of activity this Friday with two eruptions, the first one was registered at 6:20 a.m. local time with a column that reached 500 meters above the crater (3,840 meters above the seal level or 12,595.2 feet) the second eruption took place at 2:05 p.m. and reached only 200 meters above the crater (3,540 meters / 11,611.2 feet above sea level) and a third one this Saturday morning of 1,000 meters above the crater (4,300 meters above sea level).

Dr. Mauricio Mora from the National Seismology Network explained: “Both Turrialba and Poás volcanoes are what experts know as open systems, which means their internal channels are open, condition that makes them more prone to have eruptions. Poás volcano has a bigger possibility of presenting an explosion which has already been proved in the past when it has thrown rocks in a significant radius. When it comes to Rincón de la Vieja, it is just beginning to go through a phase in which it is opening channels, and it is possible that it reaches the same conditions as the other two in the near future”.

Vulcanologists have been closely monitoring the volcanoes and agree that Poás volcano is currently presenting conditions that could lead to an eruption in the short term.