Hot Hot Hot

Volcanologists from the University of Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network (RSN) are installing two video cameras and two thermal cameras at Poás Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the country.

An inspection by volcanologists from the University of Costa Rica's National Seismological Network last weekend found that the water level in the lagoon inside the Poás Volcano’s crater has decreased by 110 centimeters in last month.

Costa Rica's ongoing hot and dry weather is causing water shortages, especially in high-altitude areas of the capital and some parts of the province of Heredia.

A decrease in the intensity of trade winds this week will cause an increase in average temperatures of up to 2 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Institute reported. Doctors recommend taking precautions against overexposure to the sun's rays.

The crater of Poas Volcano expelled material 300 meters into the air at noon on Tuesday. The phenomenon, called a phreatic explosion, occurred due to a reaction between magma and water at the southern border of the lake inside the volcano. However, this was not an eruption and the volcano did not spew lava. Instead, a column of steam, gas and other materials formed and spouted out the top of the volcano, confirmed the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI).

Costa Rican officials don't mind the glowing, fuming volcano. In fact, you can take a closer look at Poás Volcano this weekend from a lookout point at the Poás National Park. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.