I saw a brief report on ABC Nightline on 9/26 2AM EDT that Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica erupted. Where can I find current details? (You're as close as I came in my search of all wire services and news sources on Compuserve, and a search through Lycos on the Internet!) I have a friend who lives near Arena l (but across Lake Arenal, near Tilaran) who has a farm and is worried about the effects of the eruption on her land value and her farming potential. Will fallout from any future eruption cross the lake and affect her land, either physically, because of soot, or effects on animals, or through people's impressions of future danger? Or is she safe because her farm is located on the south side of Lake Arenal (about 30 miles away) from the volcano? Thanks so much for your site, which is one of the best I have seen so far on the Web. The only resource lacking is up-to-date info (or a URL to get such info) on current eruption activity. Would this be possible through Internet Relay Chat (IRC)?

rocky David A. Zill

Dear David,

I did not see the Nightline report. Nor have I seen any recent reports of an increase in activity at Arenal. Arenal has been erupting continuous since 1968. It produces lava flows and discreet, small eruptions of blocks, cinder, and ash. In most cases these volcanic products stay on the flanks of the volcano. I would guess that ABC wanted some nice footage of a volcano and went to Arenal. Most likely any increase in activity will be reported in the Smithsonian's Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network but the reports usually lag behind one or two months (but it is worth the wait because the reports are very reliable, in contrast to many reports given on network news programs). Thirty miles is a pretty safe distance from Arenal (tourists usually watch from about 2 miles away). I reviewed a summary of eruptions from Arenal from 1975-1985 and saw no reports of ash falling 30 miles away. The greatest distance reported was 6 miles (to the west and southwest of the volcano) during an increase in activity in 1984. I can't promise you that eruptions will not become larger but if Arenal continues to behave like it has since 1968 I think your friend and her farm should be safe.

We try to think your friend and her farm should be safe.

We try to provide timely information (or links to other sources) on current eruption activity. It is not easy. There are roughly 20-30 volcanoes erupting in any given month. Some are in very remote areas. In some cases the geologists are too busy to give reports until the eruption slows down. There is a list server about volcanoes which distributes information daily (it did not mention an increase in activity at Arenal). The staff at the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Network does an excellent job of cataloging eruptions but they are understaffed and too busy to post daily updates. In many cases it is prudent to wait a few days and seek confirmation of early reports by untrained observers.

Now, if you have some extra frequent flyer miles and would like me to go to Arenal for a closer look...

I hope I've answered your questions.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

Source of Information:
McClelland, L., Simkin, T., Summers, M., Nielson, E., Stein, T.C., 1989, Global volcanism 1975-1985: Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, 655 p. 

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