OVSICORI-UNA reported increasing activity at Poás. During 22-25 March sulfur dioxide gas emissions were as high as 277 tons based on satellite data and characterized as significant. Parque Nacional Volcán Poás officials and residents to the W reported health impacts from the emissions including headaches, nausea, nose bleeding, and irritations of eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. On 25 March an infrared camera recorded a fumarolic vent temperature of 302 degrees Celsius and glowing pink-purple-blue flames were visible.

Vigorous emissions of gas, steam, and sediments from fumarolic vents on the nearly dry crater floor persisted during 25-28 March; activity intensified on 29 March and remained elevated through 2 April. Seismic and infrasound signals associated with the loud discharge of the emissions through the vent structures were near-continuous. During 27-30 March numerous small phreatic eruptive events from the central part of the crater floor ejected water and sediment that mostly fell back onto the crater floor. Sulfur odors were reported in areas downwind, including Sucre San Carlos (23 km WNW), Zarcero, Grecia (16 km SW), Sabana Redonda (9 km S), San Pedro de Poás (14 km S), Monte de la Cruz (22 km SE), San Rafael, and San Isidro de Heredia (28 km SE); health impacts continued to be noted. On 29 March a vent on the N part of the crater floor completely dried up and two explosive eruptive events were recorded that same day. Ash was sporadically emitted from the vents during 29-30 March and fine ash fell in areas to the W including Sarchí (18 km SW), Grecia, Naranjo (17 km WSW), San Ramón de Alajuela (30 km WSW), Palmares (27 km SW), and Atenas. The ash content of the emissions increased on 31 March and sulfur odors were recorded in additional towns to the W, SW, and S, including Ron Ron, Sarchí, Tacares, Naranjo, Palmares, Tacares, Alajuela (20 km S), Guácima (27 km S), Garita (27 km SSW), San Ramón, and Tambor, Turrucares (28 km SSW), Atenas, Carrillo de Poás (19 km S), Santa Rosa de Poás (11 km S), Santa Bárbara (18 km SSE), and San Isidro. The emissions were not dense during 31 March-1 April and the plumes stayed low around the elevation of the volcano (2.4 km a.s.l.). On 1 April satellite data showed that 714 tons of sulfur dioxide gas was detected, representing a significant increase and the highest recorded value since a period of elevated activity during 2017-2019. Residents continued to report sulfur dioxide odors and minor ashfall during 1-2 April.

Geological Summary. The broad vegetated edifice of Poás, one of the most active volcanoes of Costa Rica, contains three craters along a N-S line. The frequently visited multi-hued summit crater lakes of the basaltic-to-dacitic volcano are easily accessible by vehicle from the nearby capital city of San José. A N-S-trending fissure cutting the complex stratovolcano extends to the lower N flank, where it has produced the Congo stratovolcano and several lake-filled maars. The southernmost of the two summit crater lakes, Botos, last erupted about 7,500 years ago. The more prominent geothermally heated northern lake, Laguna Caliente, is one of the world's most acidic natural lakes, with a pH of near zero. It has been the site of frequent phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions since an eruption was reported in 1828. Eruptions often include geyser-like ejections of crater-lake water.

Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA)