Colima is to host the Cities on Volcanoes meeting in November 2012. This will be the 7th meeting following others in Naples, Auckland, Hawaii, Quito, Japan and Tenerife. The idea behind the event is one of participation from the non-academic sector, where we can work on issues such as education, communication, risk analysis and emergency management.

Information will start to expand on the website: www.citiesonvolcanoes7.com

Nick attended two workshops in 2011, first in the Philippines in June which asked the question “Can Plinian Eruptions be Forecast?” and the second in Erice, Sicily, which sought to define the best ways for volcano observatories to find and communicate precursors to eruptions in the short-term. Both events producing stimulating discussions and opened doors to more sharing between observatories in the future.

During May Aída Quezado paid us a visit from New Mexico Tech to carry out the installation of two new infrasound stations. One is located above Juan Barragán on the SE flank, the other near to La Lumbre on the SW flank. Each consists of an array of four sensors and will supplement the telemetred network (currently only one station of three is functioning). The data produced will be analysed as part of Aída’s PhD project.

Aida installing infrasound probe

There was a trip to Isla Socorro during April and May. Many points were included in a further self-potential survey of the summit region as well as CO2 flux measurements made. At Cabo Henslow further work was carried out to catalogue a Surtseyan eruption which took place there an undetermined number of years ago.

The photo shows a deposit with abundant accretionary lapilli.

There are signs of a decrease in the eruption rate with a drop off in the number of rockfalls occurring. This is the first clear decrease noted since the current episode commenced in January 2007. The number of explosions is also decreasing. Quite what this means is difficult to forecast after such a sustained period of fairly constant activity.

The photo taken from a flight in February shows the grey western lobe, as well as a fresh explosion crater in the SE sector.

Work continues to get the Doppler Radar system running completely. Data is being acquired, though the radio link and camera are not currently in operation. Several Playon trips have taken place to gather more data for the rockfall project

During a fieldtrip for the volcanology class of LICAMGER the beautiful dacitic flow from the central dome was explored. The photo shows the amazing fracturing present within the blocks.

Olivier last visited in 2006 when the collaboration was started. Olivier is looking at melt inclusions to ascertain variations in volatiles associated with different eruptive characteristics as well as U-series isotopes to determine resident times of the magma. During his visit we sampled most of the historic flows.