Vuelo

So like I said, I went on a volcano flight early this morning. We brought the infrared thermal camera and circled the peak of the volcano several times. On the final pass, the volcano exploded right towards us! It is a rather slow eruption, so we had plenty of time to avoid flying in the plume, but the pilot was still worried. This flight was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. In the pictures, you can see the dome that is building on top of the crater and you can see the rock falls in the eruption photos. The peak in the background in an inactive volcano where the observatory is located.

Piedras de Fuego

The professor I work for is short on money, so he made this internship program a possibility for aspiring volcanologists so that he can get help for cheap from students like me. In return I am exposed to an active volcano, field measurement equipment and methods, and lab analysis. This past week was really fun and interesting. Several volcaologists from around the world were here this past week doing some collaborated field work and we got to be right in the mix. We spent each day doing field work on different parts of the volcano collecting water, gas, and temperature data and rock samples. The highlight of the week however was our overnight field trip to a place called Playon. But first, a geology lesson...

There are many types of volcanoes and there are many ways volcanoes release their energy and heat. Volcan de Fuego periodically transitions from explosive to effusive.

Explosive eruptions only occur when the magma is silicic and viscous. The magma could contain a lot of gases that expand when they reach atmospheric pressure. If this decompression occurs rapidly, hot ash, rocks and lava could explode and be very destructive.

Effusive activity occurs in almost all volcanic settings and is characterized by passive lava flows and degassing events. The magma degasses periodically and causes a small eruption of gases like water vapor and sulfur dioxide. Effusive activity is also characterized by lava domes.

Currently Volcan de Fuego degasses several times a day and the lava dome continues to grow. Since 2005, the volcano has been building a new lava dome. The lava dome is on the crater rim at the peak of the volcano. As new magma reaches the surface and cools, fresh hot rocks cascade down the slopes of the volcano. These rock falls occur about every 30 minutes and it sounds like an explosion. At night, the hot rocks glow and often cause forest fires.

The Playon is situated just below the reach of the rock falls about 1 km from the summit. We camped there this weekend and remotely measured the gases and temperatures emitted from the dome. The volcano erupted several times while we were there and rocks cascaded towards us every 30 minutes. Each rock sounded like a thunderstorm or an explosion. Around 11 pm we were just hanging out around the campfire and monitoring the equipment when the volcano erupted and the plume rose directly over our heads. It was amazing. The moon light allowed us to watch the whole thing. Red hot rocks (literally) were propelled down the slopes. A small amount of ash collected on my tent and my shoulder. It was the coolest thing I have ever witnessed. This is what I signed up for.

Tomorrow we are going on a plane ride around the volcano.

Lago de Las Marias

Buenas

This week we did lots of lab work and spent a day in the field getting S02 measurements in a small village right on the volcano. It has been interesting talking to the locals about the Volcano because for the most part they do not have any clue about the hazards that loom over their villages. Some think the volcano erupts when the weather is hot, others think that it erupts snow sometimes, others think that the volcano is controlled by the Gods. On our way home we stopped in all the little villages and walked around. Without question we are starred at wherever we go, especially in these small villages on the slopes of the volcano where you don’t often see tourists. Each village without fail, has a central plaza with a fountain, benches and trees, a catholic church with a sweet bell tower, and cobblestone streets.

Last night an annual Colima party called Patetera started. It’s crazy. It started off with a parade which lasted from 9 pm to well past midnight. To name just a few of the things I saw last night: Horses, cowboys, trumpets, guitars, large sombreros, lots of alcohol, dancing, mayhem, drunk fights, thousands of people, people starring at me, police, machine guns, drunk drivers, tacos, the list goes on. It was crazy.

Good times

When I hear the phrase ¨Good times¨, I think of a little melody, ¨Good times, great oldies, Fox 97.¨ It was a classic rock radio station in Atlanta. Needless to say good times are being had here and I am currently listening to Neil Young.

This week we went back up to Nevado for 2 nights for thermal and S02 monitoring. Basically we hitch a ride up the mountain in the back a truck with the local civil protection group. We set up all the equipment, make sure it is working right, get weather data recorded every 30 minutes and hang out at 14,000 ft. It was quite cold and windy. The volcano exploded a few times but it was relatively quite. After 3 days and 2 nights we hitched a ride back down.

Friday afternoon we went to a beach town called Manzanillo. It´s actually one of the largest ports in Mexico. The US gets a lot of its goods through Manzanillowhich is then bused up to Houston. It´s also a huge drug port. Apparently there is a battle going on for control of the port, but for the most part the drug lords and other port officials work together.

That night we checked out downtown, which isn´t much because it a port town. Eventually we found a hostel owned by an awesome Canadian couple. It was seriously the coolest little place. 15 bucks a night, hot showers, pool, breakfast and only a 5 minute walk to the beach. Saturday on the beach was amazing.

The rest of the weekend, we partied. Well as much as we can I guess. Mexicans love a good tequilla and apparently American Football and Applebees.