As a result of recent eruptive activity, a new crater is forming at the top of the Poás Volcano.
This new formation takes place in the same site where the dome used to be, a structure of about 30 meters that disappeared after the eruption of April 14th.
The Costa Rican Volcanologist and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI) confirmed that the site also continues to form a cone due to the low exit of rocks, fragments of fresh red lava, ash and sediments.
Consulted on the subject, Jorge Brenes, volcanologist from the Ovsicori, explained that the changes in the summit of the colossus are happening very fast. There may be variants from one day to another.
The eruptions are phrea-magmatic. What is emerging is youthful material that is forming the new cone,”
said Brenes.
Phrea-magmatic eruptions are characterized by the interaction of lava with water.
It is very premature (to speak of the diameter), as it is in constant formation and there are parts covered by the water,”
said the official.
The sudden Poás activity took the volcanologists by surprise, who confirmed the presence of three different types of eruptions in the last two weeks.
This was explained by Raúl Mora Amador, a volcanologist from the Preventec program at the University of Costa Rica (UCR).
– Groundwater (Friday, April 14th): They are the simplest. There is no lava outlet. It’s simply an explosion in the lake, with increased pressure that lifts the mud. The material falls back into the lake.
– Strombolian (Saturday, April 22nd): Lava and youthful material are expelled. Eruption with bubble of gases released by the magma itself. Its most outstanding pyroclastic products (ash, stones or bombs of lava) are the bombs of magma and ash.
– Vulcanian (Night of Saturday, April 22nd): Explosive eruption. The magma comes in contact with water and generates a fairly large explosion. The ash column must have been 5 kilometers high. Forming a pyroclastic wave that reached the outlook. Presence of hot clouds.