Poás Volcano Heats Up, Spits Gases and Particles

Volcano experts are keeping a closer eye on Poás volcano, northwest of San José, after plumes of steam and rock sediment soared from its crater Friday.

Park guards who witnessed the eruption said gases and particles sailed up to 300 meters into the air, which is approximately the height of the crater wall.

The phreatic eruption indicates significant changes to the volcano’s behavior and physical makeup. It occurs when hot magma within the volcano comes into contact with surface water and causes an explosion of gas, water vapor and particles of earth.

The temperature of the volcano, which is normally between 100 and 135 degrees Celsius, rose to 369 degrees C last week and caused the volcano’s sulfur to burn – an infrequent phenomenon that hasn’t been seen at Poás since July of 1994. According to the National Seismology System (RSN), based at the University of Costa Rica, sulfur begins to burn when volcano temperatures hit 248 degrees C. This, in turn, causes frequent phreatic eruptions.

The extreme heat, combined with this year’s drought, has also caused a loss of 400,000 cubic meters of water inside the volcano’s acidic crater.

The recent activity has not prompted closure of the park, but scientists said the gases and particles could cause eye irritation to those standing at the crater’s edge.

Volcanologists said they expect more such eruptions and they will continue to monitor the volcano.

–Mike McDonald