Poas Volcano gas and ash cloud, Costa Rica
The recent Poas Volcano eruption threw me for a loop.
Did I scarf down too much papaya?
Maybe the dog got into some trash?
Or did the local sewer system act up after heavy rains? (This seems to happen often in the tropics.)
I became flummoxed.
What exactly caused the “rotten egg smell” wafting into the living room each night?
Turns out, a neighbor informed us that Poas Volcano had erupted for the first time in 5 years. 2019 marked the last relatively strong eruption when this stratovolcano belched noxious gases into the atmosphere, compelling authorities to shut down the tourist spot temporarily. During a particularly aggressive eruption in 2017, residents and tourists underwent evacuations to play it safe.
Yep; I did my homework on this stuff before visiting nearby Grecia, Costa Rica.
Sulfur emissions traveling on strong breezes from under 10 miles away invaded our living space, particularly evident during evening hours. Invisible gases evade detection from the naked eye but not the naked nose. In more enhanced moments, picture a less invasive version of “Chili Night” in your household.
Anyway, I want to share a photo and my thoughts because this rare event vibes with my science brain, being a meteorologist by schooling.
Poas Volcano eruption over my left shoulder.
Poas Volcano Costa Rica
Poas Volcano boasts one of the largest craters in the world.
Nearly 1 mile wide and 900 feet deep, this behemoth is one of the most popular tourist stops in Costa Rica.
I planned to hike there from the outskirts of Grecia but one local expat noted how the path is graced with a less than friendly finca owner and his even more grumpy dog. Oh well.
On the upside, I have great views of erupting ash and gas from the backyard, especially on impossibly sunny days here in the land of the Pura Vida. After digesting the sulfuric odor, peeping the mysterious cloud cover and realizing that clouds do not form on the ground and waft upward, I did a little geo tracking and realized how the white stuff originated from Poas.
Not a Fallen Kingdom Deal Here
Before visions of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom dance around in your head, with stampeding dinosaurs and blistering lava engulfing lush, tropical, primal surroundings, this eruption looks almost identical to plain-jane cloud cover. Save the clouds emanating from terra firma, of course.
Basically, a steady flow of volcanic ash and gas looking like a steamy bank of clouds consistently flows from the volcano over mountains to our Northwest.
You cannot see the actual volcano from here. But you can easily observe the eruptive gases traveling through the atmosphere.
I captured this phenomena via video to preserve the moment with moving pictures:
What About Potential Side Effects?
I do not perceive myself as being R-BBQ anytime soon. Our distance from the crater and its past behavior typically means a rarest of the rare possibility for severe destruction.
Side effects for locals may include potential breathing issues related to being irritated by gases. My eyes do burn a wee bit here and there but this could be allergies to local flora.
Other than that, the eruption offers me an opportunity to share some of my travels with you.
Our Current Location
Kelli and I are spending 2 and a half months a bit north of Grecia, Costa Rica.
Elevated at roughly 4000 to 5000 feet, we sit about a mile high to enjoy a mild climate.
Consider a 90-60 spread daily as high season morphs into low season here in early April. Sunny skies and 90 degree temperatures drop to clear skies at night with lows in the lower 60’s. Toss in some clouds and perhaps showers once to twice weekly and you have about the perfect climate for the tropics.
What about air conditioning? You do not need it. Even gringo expats accustomed to Western comforts rarely get air conditioning installed in the elevated areas around Grecia. Cool evenings transition into mild days. Homes remain comfortable throughout the day if not a bit chilly at night.
Extreme weather appears to be rare (says the guy blogging about a volcanic eruption in the region) but we did receive high winds on a clear day recently. Gales reached 40 MPH to 50 MPH but veteran expats remarked that it is not totally uncommon to experience hurricane force winds during these events, from time to time.
Other than that, Grecia may flash the best weather in Costa Rica from the perspective of sheer comfort.
Your Turn
Have you visited Poas Volcano?
How about Grecia, Costa Rica?
