Centre of Exchange and Research in Volcanology

Current News

Growing Dome (May Update)
The long slow dome growth at Volcán de Colima continues into 2010. The dome is now overspilling the crater on the west, south, and most recently the north flanks of the volcano. In February a new lobe appeared on the W side. This change of growth pattern probably reflected an acceleration in the effusion rate and has resulted in more intense rockfalls down that flank. Incandescence can now be appreciated during the night.
Unmanned flight
A video of Volcán de Colima's summit dome (approx. elevation 3870 m) was taken during a test flight by a tactical Ehécatl S4 aerial surveillance system. This is one of the operational unmanned aerial systems (UAS) developed by the Mexican company Hydra Technologies for civil protection surveillance, public safety, ecology, among other purposes. Some of these systems have been acquired by other countries, and the company claims that their operational costs are lower than their competitors. The neighbouring inactive peak of Nevado de Colima (4260 m elevation) is also visible in the video. Video courtesy of Hydra Technologies.
Growing Dome
The first development of the current effusive eruption took place in late February with a distinct change in the growth pattern of the dome. A new lobe probably reflect an increase in the effusion rate which has been emplaced on the W side of the dome above the point that first started overflowing a few months ago. This new growth has greatly increased the magnitude and frequency of rockfalls.
Chile 2010
Nick spent two weeks in January in Chile to initiate links with researchers at the University of Concepción and to participate in field research at the volcanoes Villarrica and Chaitén. At Villarrica several seismo-acoustic stations were installed to study the degassing mechanism within the magma that lies in a lava lake deep within the summit crater. Working with the team from New Mexico Tech, a cable was mounted above the crater to hang a video camera to get a view inside the narrow inner-crater which hosts the lava lake. At Chaitén thermal images were taken of the dome both from the crater rim and from a helicopter flight. This contributed to an international multidisciplinary research effort led by the USGS and SERNAGEOMIN of Chile. This eruption is the first significant one to produce rhyolite since Katmai in 1912. Studying the seismicity indicated the dome growth was still continuing, however, the thermal results showed that the rate was now low and limited to an area around the edge of a previous collapse scar. http://elcomentario.ucol.mx/Noticia.php?id=1267335270

Chaitén dome with the devastated forest on the flanks	Chaitén large rhyolite dome from the air. The city of Chaitén can be seen in the background.

The team working on the crater rim of Villarrica

Doppler Radar
During February Lea Scharff visited Colima to install a repaired PC control unit for the U. of Hamburg Doppler Radar system installed on the south flank. The unit had been damaged in Dec. and went back to Germany for repairs. The 2 radars were now correctly calibrated and are now collecting data from the volcano. Explosions will be recorded with possibilities to measure the vertical velocity of the ash particles.