Poás Volcano

Poás Volcano

Poás volcano crater, shown before the 2017 eruptions
Highest point
Elevation 2,708 m (8,885 ft) 78
Coordinates 10°12′N 84°12′W / 10.2°N 84.2°W / 10.2; -84.2Coordinates: 10°12′N 84°12′W / 10.2°N 84.2°W / 10.2; -84.2 
Geography
Location Costa Rica
Parent range Cordillera Central
Geology
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption April 2017
Climbing
Easiest route Hike

The Poás Volcano, (Spanish: Volcán Poás), is an active 2,708-metre (8,885 ft) stratovolcano in central Costa Rica and is located within Poas Volcano National Park. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, including April, 2017 when visitors and residents were evacuated.[1] The volcano and surrounding park are currently closed indefinitely, with a 2.5 kilometer safety perimeter established around the erupting crater. [2]

Crater lakes

There are two crater lakes near the summit. The northern lake is known as the Laguna Caliente ("hot lagoon") and is located at a height of 2,300 m in a crater approximately 1.7 km wide and 290–300 m deep. It is one of the world's most acidic lakes. The acidity varies after rain and changes in volcanic activity, sometimes reaching a pH of almost 0; consequently, it supports little or no aquatic life. The bottom of this lake is covered with a layer of liquid sulfur.[3] Acid gases create acid rain and acid fog, causing damage to surrounding ecosystems and often irritation of eyes and lungs.

Lake Botos, the southern lake, fills an inactive crater, which last erupted in 7500 BC. It is cold and clear, and is surrounded by a cloud forest within the National Park boundaries.

Eruptive history

Column of smoke rising from the main crater

On May 17, 1953, an eruption occurred that started a cycle that lasted until 1956. At least two people were reported missing.[4]

Poás was near the epicenter of a 6.1-magnitude earthquake in January 2009 that killed at least forty people and affected Fraijanes, Vara Blanca, Cinchona (the most affected area), the capital San José, and the Central Valley region of Costa Rica.

There was also eruptive activity in 2009 involving minor phreatic eruptions and landslides within the northern active crater. Poás eruptions often include geyser-like ejections of crater-lake water.

On February 25, 2014, a webcam from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) captured the moment a dark cloud exploded about 1,000 feet in the air from a massive crater of the Poás Volcano. This volcano remains active today.[5][6] Poás is one of 9 volcanoes currently monitored by the Deep Earth Carbon Degassing Project. The project is collecting data on the carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emission rates from subaerial volcanoes.[7]

2017 Activity

On April 9, 2017, National Park officials placed restrictions on visitors at Poas due to an increased volume of toxic gasses at the summit crater.[8] An explosion on April 12 caused park officials to close the popular park to visitors. The measure was termed "temporary." [9] Some nearby residents were also evacuated.[10]

On April 14, 2017, two eruptions at 07:39 and 07:57 created an over three kilometer ash and vapor column.[11] Further explosions occurred April 16.[12]

Following a substantial blast on April 22 that sent incandescent rocks over a large area which damaged park buildings and infrastructure, Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis toured the surrounding towns the following two days. Business owners described the negative financial impacts the volcano park closure were causing, and Solis released a video in Spanish and English urging potential tourists to visit the nearby community shops and restaurants. He also promised emergency agencies would continue to make updated reports on the eruption. [13]

Lake Botos is an inactive crater within Poás Volcano National Park
Lake Botos is an inactive crater within Poás Volcano National Park 
Fumarole activity at the Poás crater
Fumarole activity at the Poás crater 

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://news.co.cr/new-eruption-at-poas-volcano-in-costa-rica-forces-evacuation-of-a-few-neighbors/59243/
  2. ↑ http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/04/17/poas-volcano-turrialba
  3. ↑ O. Vaselli, F. Tassi, A.Minissale, G. Montegrossi, E. Duarte, E.Fernandez, E. Bergamaschi (2003), Rigmarole migration and fluid geochemistry at Poás Volcano (Costa Rica), The Geological Society of London.
  4. ↑ (Video) Así asustó a los ticos el Poás ¡en 1953!
  5. ↑ NY Daily News 2/25/14
  6. ↑ Costa Rico Star News 12/28/16
  7. ↑ "DECADE Installations at Turrialba and Poás". Deep Carbon Observatory. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  8. ↑ http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/04/10/poas-volcano-gases
  9. ↑ http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/04/13/poas-volcano-eruption
  10. ↑ http://news.co.cr/new-eruption-at-poas-volcano-in-costa-rica-forces-evacuation-of-a-few-neighbors/59243/
  11. ↑ Volcán Poás registra erupción de más de 3 kilómetros de altura
  12. ↑ http://news.co.cr/another-eruption-sunday-afternoon-poas-volcano-costa-rica/59457/
  13. ↑ http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/04/24/poas-solis-tour
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