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A new phase of ash emissions began on the evening of 4 Oct. The volcano started to emit near continuous ash plumes, interrupted by strong degassing phases, from the active El Agrio crater. Seismic activity according to SERNAGEOMIN has been low suggesting that the origin of the new eruptions is phreatic, i.e. driven by steam explosions rather than fresh magma rising to the surface.
No incandescence has been observed, a further sign that the temperature is relatively low, typical for phreatic activity, and no thermal signal is visible on satellite data.
Copahue volcano started a phase of unrest in late 2012 with seismic swarms and increased degassing. Its alert level was lowered back to Green in April 2013, but activity picked up shortly again, in May, and increased to the point that a magmatic eruption was considered a possibility. Volcanic alert level was raised to red, along with evacuations as precaution.
In June 2013, seismic and degassing activity decreased again and in July, alert level was lowered back to Yellow, despite some occasional ash emissions. Whether or not the current activity will lead to a new escalation of the ongoing crisis and possibly a magmatic eruption is impossible to say at the moment.
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