Costa Rica issues alert Level 3 as Arenal Volcano spews vapor
 

Just saw this in Tico Times, "Level 3, or “yellow alert,” means a probable eruption or strong changes in the eruption patterns in the next 10 days, upcoming weeks, or few months."
http://www.ticotimes.net/daily.htm#story1

How serious of a threat do you think this is? Anyone else have more information?

This is the first I've heard of it - makes me glad our hotel is not right on the volcano. Could make for some great viewing though.

I was very surprised at the level of activity (noise) that we heard from ARenal a week or so ago (busman's holiday). Went to look at the seismic setup at the lodge, but didn't notice any unusual activity; a precurser, maybe? We joked about how we were in a very bad place for a Plinian eruption...hope it's all ok for everyone there (but there would be warnings, it's a well-monitered volcano.

Do you guys know if there's a website where we can monitor the progress? It would be interesting to keep tabs on it. Hope it's all just a good show and nothing dangerous. Kind of makes those warning signs at Tabacon seem a little more realistic!

http://www.rsn.geologia.ucr.ac.cr/ (But it's in Spanish.) I was surprised to learn that the area was inhabited 10,000 years ago!
And that the chance of a Plinian (vs. Strombolian) eruption is nil.

Looks like Arenal went off yesterday.

http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews...ne/17/cr03.htm

Wow, that's exciting. Hoping it stays exciting but doesn't get dangerous.

Sylvia, what's the difference in those types of eruptions?

Strombolian is a kind of steady, on-going thing (much like current Hawaiian-style eruptions); Plinian is the explosive type that sends giant eruptions of tephra and surges (pyroclastic flows, nuees ardentes, etc.)(Like that of Vesuvius in A.D. 79(?), described by Pliny the Younger, hence the name). However, both Vesuvius and Arenal are stratovolcanoes; Hawaii's Kilauea and Mauna Loa are shield volcanoes. I'm not sure, but I believe it's got a bit to do whether the volcano is dry or wet, too. (not referring to rainfall)

Wonder if my info was wrong about chances of a huge eruption (a c0-worker scoffed at the idea)? For everyone's sake, I certainly hope not!

We were at the Arenol Observatory Lodge June 9 through June 12 and saw lots of activity. I confess, this was the first active volcano we've seen so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but the man who lives in the large house ("casa" on the trail map) that borders the waterfall trail told us that the volcano was more active the week were there than it had been in the last 9 months. And one night my husband and daughter were up late watching the action when they heard a very loud venting sound. They said they thought at first it was a low-flying airplane but then realized it was the volcano. My husband said it was the only time he got nervous being that close. The lodge location is awesome but driving out of there on that bumpy road is not a quick escape! We'll be watching the progess - thanks for the links.

sylvia, we did the volcano hike the last time we were there, and I remember our guide saying that one huge eruption killed about 100 people and wiped out a lot of cattle. I don't know the details about what kind of eruption it was, but I know that now they only allow you to get so close. He said an entire town was destroyed. Hopefully this is all just a good show. I wish that website were in English also.

Of course, any eruption, esp. one that kills people, is terrible. By "huge", I mean the Krakatoa-level (planetary climate-changing) eruptions; no one on the planet wants one of those.
If you are interested in volcanoes, this site is very good, and has good links and information:
http://volcanism.wordpress.com/categ...no-monitoring/