MEXICO - Colima volcano
February 10th, 2014
Based on observations of satellite images, the Washington VAAC reported that a small ash cloud from Colima drifted slowly E and then SE on 7 February; the slow drift was indicative of a low altitude. Another small puff of gas with low amounts of ash drifted SE.The Washington VAAC reported intermittent ash emissions from Colima on 21 January: an ash puff drifted S at an altitude of 4.9 km (16,000 ft) a.s.l., a second ash puff drifted SSW, and a third ash puff drifted S.
Previously, the Washington VAAC reported that at 0730 on 17 November 2013 a possible ash emission from Colima produced a plume that drifted almost 20 km E. The Washington VAAC reported that between 2315 and 2345 on 9 November a bright thermal anomaly over Colima was detected in satellite images. A diffuse puff of gas and steam observed at 0115 on 10 November possibly contained ash.Previously, as of the 6th of April, the summit lava dome showed some collapses. (video). Following more than one year without activity, an explosion occurred on 6th of January 2013 generating a volcanic plume that rose to about 2500 m above the summit crater, then quickly drifted toward the small town of Atenquique located 20 km East of the volcano. (video). The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic centre of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcán de Colima at the south. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the 16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in 1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth. Colima's web video camera - Colima data base