Activity increasing at Costa Rica’s Turrialba volcano

August 19, 2011 – SAN JUAN – For over 100 years the Turrialba was dormant, but now is visited weekly by experts who are tracking its changes. Recently, experts have been investigating new holes in the craters, where the temperature of gas emissions has been rising and forming a single plume of gas that is visible at the top. The Turrialba volcano records an average of 100 micro quakes daily. In addition, the degassing is affecting production at nearby crop and dairy farms. To follow the pulse of the temperatures the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has installed infrared cameras, this along with the seismic stations, it will allow experts to learn any drastic change at the volcano in minutes. Cameras have also been installed at the Poás volcano. Last July 22 the Ministry of Environment and Telecommunications (MINAET) decided to reopen the Turrialba Volcano National Park, that had been closed since January 2010 activity. –Inside Costa Rica