Costa Rica on alert as volcano spits ash

Costa Rica declared a state of emergency Thursday after eruptions of ash from a volcano forced international flights to be postponed and threatened the capital, authorities said.

"For several days now volcano Turrialba has had continual eruptions marked by the constant expulsion of ash," the National Emergencies Commission (CNE) said in a statement.

It declared a state of emergency for the capital San Jose and other central cities.
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Read more at: phys.org...

This part is very telling.

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The Seismological and Vulcanological Observatory at Costa Rica University said a seismic tremor was detected that was growing in intensity.
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Read more at: phys.org...

The increased activity in this volcano is ongoing as per www.volcanodiscovery.com...

BTW, this volcano has shown increased activity since it started this latest rumbling about May 2016. Although it has had regular activity.

news.nationalgeographic.com...

Do most volcanos go into full eruption after an increased and prolonged period of spitting?

originally posted by: carewemust
Do most volcanos go into full eruption after an increased and prolonged period of spitting?

I think spitting ash is considered a form of eruption. There are different types of eruptions, some violent and explosive and some minor "leaks" and many types between. Apparently seismic activity of the Turrialba volcano preceded the Dec 28 explosion:

www.ticotimes.net...

Mauricio Mora, a volcanologist with the University of Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network (RSN), said in a public report that activity at Turrialba between Dec. 15 – 27 was mostly low with very low seismic activity and sporadic and weak ash spewings.

“Starting on December 28, however, we recorded an increase in seismic activity, with volcanic tremors lasting between 4-7 minutes,” he said. This spike in the activity resulted in a strong explosion at 23:00 hours that hurled incandescent rocks around the crater, Mora said.

Apparently it's been erupting since 2010 and the eruption levels vary like that from low seismic activity and low ash eruption to larger seismic activity and explosions like happened on Dec 28.

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

Turrialba is one of the volcanoes that is considered to be an, "ongoing eruption:"

Bagana Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) Ongoing
Bulusan Luzon (Philippines) Ongoing
Colima Mexico Ongoing
Copahue Central Chile-Argentina border Ongoing
Dukono Halmahera (Indonesia) Ongoing
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA) Ongoing
Nevado del Ruiz Colombia Ongoing
Sheveluch Central Kamchatka (Russia) Ongoing
Sinabung Indonesia Ongoing
Turrialba Costa Rica Ongoing

Global Volcanism Project

This one doesn't have quite the same heft as Campi Flegrei as far as potential for chaos if it happens to wake up; though I am definitely sure people that live nearby are eyeing it warily.

If anyone is interested in looking at the real-time heliplots, the first 8 on this page are for the seismometers monitoring Turrialba. (one of them is offline)


They are also available in GEE by adding the OV network, and then switching to the "high broad band" channel, and choose "vertical only" orientation.

a reply to: Olivine

Thanks for that.

Here is an update on this volcano.

Costa Rica’s Central Valley on alert after Turrialba volcano becomes increasingly active

The volcano’s constant eruptions are sending plumes of ash in to the sky

Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith Monday 9 January 2017

Costa Rica has declared a state of emergency for a major area of the country including the capital of San Jose following the constant eruptions of ash from one of its largest volcanos, according to AFP.

“For several days now volcano Turrialba has had continual eruptions marked by the constant expulsion of ash,” the National Emergencies Commission (CNE) said in a statement.
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Costa Rica’s Central Valley on alert after Turrialba volcano becomes increasingly active