European satellites are going to be monitoring the Arenal Volcano

Taken from: www.nacion.com

The Arenal volcano, considered one of the most active in the world by its constant lava flows and explosive eruptions of gases, vapors and ashes, will be watched now from space.

ThCosta Rican and European scientists met this month in Costa Rica to understand the current use of the satellites of the European Spatial Agency and the applications that can be given for monitoring the current activities of the volcano. These satellites may be used to detect changes in the formation or in the emanations of the colossus that can notify of the risk of an eruption.

"The satellites function 24 hours, seven days a week, and generate images of the volcano, which would be able to improve the prevention of natural events", confirmed Gerardo Soto, one of the Costa Ricans that participates in this initiative.

Vigilance of the volcano is being done by an Italian team of scientists supported by Costa Rican, German, and French experts, of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) and of the University Of Costa Rica (UCR). The investigation on the Arenal will be focused in three specific points. First, in determining which are the hottest points of the volcano and where the hot points are located in the outskirts. These places would be able to be produced a liberation of lava or of high temperature materials.

Up to now, the scientists reckon that the structure of the Arenal is growing around up to five meters per year, something that is difficult to confirm only with the measurements done by land. According to the forecasts, if the Arenal volcano continues to grow in height (currently it measures 1,750 meters), the population of La Fortuna will be exposed to avalanches in as little as two decades.

The satellites will determine if this "growth" of the colossus is real. The study will also permit to compare the data that has been taken by land by the Costa Rican volcanologists. "This is an unique opportunity to calibrate the spatial instruments and to validate or to improve upon the data that we have. Besides, some of the tools we will have at our disposition have the advantage that they’re not affected by the clouds or the rain, for which we will have a lot of information to understand the Arenal", Soto added.