Eruption and pyroclastic flow on Volcán de Colima.

Volcán de Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, erupted suddenly at about 5.30 local time on Friday 3 February 2017, producing an ash column that rose about 4 km above the summit of the volcano and caused ash falls in some local communities, as well as triggering a pyroclastic flow (avalanche of hot rock, ash and gas) on the eastern flank of the volcano.

 Eruption on Colima on 3 February 2017. Webcams de Mexico.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fuelled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquefy and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fuelling Mexico's volcanoes.

The subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate in Mexico, and how it leads to volcanoes and Earthquakes. King Saud University.

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Eruption on Volcán de Colima.

Volcán de Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, erupted slightly after midnight local time on Thursday 19 January 2016, with the largest eruption producing an ash column that rose 2 km above the summit of the mountain. Colima is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes, having erupted more than 40 times since records began in the area in 1576. It has been erupting more-or-less continuously since 2001, with the current bout of eruptions having begun about two week ago.

 Eruption on Colima on 19 January 2017. Webcams de Mexico.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fueled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquify and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling Mexico's volcanoes.

The location of Volcán de Colima. Google Maps.

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Further eruptions on Volcán de Colima.

Mount Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, erupted twice on Saturday 24 December 2016, with the largest eruption producing an ash column that rose 2.5 km above the summit of the mountain. Colima is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes, having erupted more than 40 times since records began in the area in 1576. It has been erupting more-or-less continuously since 2001, with the current bout of eruptions having begun about two week ago.

Ash column over Volcán de Colima on 24 December 2016. BBC.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fuelled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquefy and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fuelling Mexico's volcanoes.

 The subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate in Mexico, and how it leads to volcanoes and Earthquakes. King Saud University.

 See also...

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Eruptions on Volcán de Colima.

Mount Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, erupted three times on the morning of Sunday 18 December 2016, with the largest eruption producing an ash column that rose 2 km above the summit of the mountain. Colima is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes, having erupted more than 40 times since records began in the area in 1576. It has been erupting more-or-less continuously since 2001, with the current bout of eruptions having begun about 10 days ago.

Infra-red image of an eruption on Mount Colima early on 18 December 2016. Volcano Discovery.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fuelled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquefy and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fuelling Mexico's volcanoes.

 The subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate in Mexico, and how it leads to volcanoes and Earthquakes. King Saud University.

 See also...

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Flights cancelled after eruption on Mount Colima.

Several flights from airports in Mexico have been canceled following an eruption on Mount Colima on Wednesday 18 November 2015. The eruption produced an ash column about two kilometers in height, ane led to ashfalls near local airports, causing flights to be cancelled as a precaution. Colima is one of Mexico's most active volcanos, having erupted more than 40 times since records began in the area in 1576. It has been erupting more-or-less continuously since 2001, with the current bout of eruptions having began in July this year.

 Ash column over Mount Colima on 18 November 2015. BBC.

Volcanic ash is extremely hazardous to aircraft in a number of ways. At its most obvious it is opaque, both visually and to radar. Then it is abrasive, ash particles physically scour aircraft, damaging components and frosting windows. However the ash is most dangerous when it is sucked into jet engines, here the high temperatures can melt the tiny silica particles, forming volcanic glass which then clogs engine. When this happens the only hope the aircraft has is to dive sharply, in the hope that cold air passing through the engine during the descent will cause the glass to shatter, allowing the engine to be restarted.

 The location of Mount Colima. Google Maps.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Mount Colima) are fueled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquify and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling Mexico's volcanoes.

The subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate in Mexico, and how it leads to volcanoes and Earthquakes. King Saud University.

See also...

Eruption on Mount Popocatépetl.                The Mexican National Centre for Disaster Prevention reported a series of eruptions on Mount Popocatépetl on Tuesday 20 October 2015, beginning at about 2.00 pm local time, the largest of which produced an ash...

Eruptions on Mount Colima.                          Mount Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, underwent two spectacular eruptions on Thursday 15 October, at...

Eruptions on Volcán de Colima.                       Volcán de Colima, an active stratovolcano (cone-shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) on the border between Jalisco and Colima States in Mexico, began a series of eruptions in the first week of July 2015, with ash plumes rising as much as..

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Eruptions on Mount Colima.

Mount Colima, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) in southern Mexico which gives its name to both the state of Colima and the Colima Volcanic Complex, underwent two spectacular eruptions on Thursday 15 October, at 9.46 and 11.00 am local time, producing ash columns in excess of 2 km in height which drifted to the south. Colima is one of Mexico's most active volcanos, having erupted more than 40 times since records began in the area in 1576. It has been erupting more-or-less continuously since 2001, with the current bout of eruptions having began in July this year.

Eruption on Colima on 15 October 2015. Webcams de Mexico.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fueled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquify and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling Mexico's volcanoes.

The location of Volcán de Colima. Google Maps.

See also...

Eruptions on Volcán de Colima.

Volcán de Colima, an active stratovolcano (cone-shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) on the border between Jalisco and Colima States in Mexico, began a series of eruptions in the first week of July 2015, with ash plumes rising as much as 3 km...

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in southwest Puebla State, Mexico.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 53 km in southwest Puebla State in southern Mexico at...

Flights disrupted following eruption on Mount Popocatépetl.

Flights from Puebla International Airport in Mexico have been cancelled after an eruption from Mount Popocatépetl covered runways in ash on Tuesday 24 February 2015. The eruption also produced an ash column 4 km high, as well as throwing hot rocks...

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Eruptions on Volcán de Colima.

Volcán de Colima, an active stratovolcano (cone-shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) on the border between Jalisco and Colima States in Mexico, began a series of eruptions in the first week of July 2015, with ash plumes rising as much as 3 km above the volcano's summit and the growth of a lava dome (mound-shaped structure formed by the slow production of highly viscous lava) close to the mountain's summit. On 12 July at about noon local time a large eruption on the volcano produced an ash column 7.5 km in height, which drifted 150 km to the west. This was followed by a second eruption slightly after 8.15 pm which deposited incandescent material on the western and southwestern flanks of the volcano, produced a 4 km high ash column and triggered a series of small pyroclastic flows (avalanches of hot ash and gas). This led to ash falls in communities up to 18 km from the mountain, which prompted local authorities to order evacuations of some nearby villages, as well as voluntary evacuations by members of some other communities. Eruptive activity has continued at roughly the same level since this time, prompting some other evacuations, and making it unlikely that those evacuated will be able to return to their homes soon; at the current time a mandatory evacuation of all homes within 12 km of the volcano is in place.

Ash from Volcán de Colima falling on nearby communities. AP.

The volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (including Volcán de Colima) are fueled by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate along the Middle American Trench to the south of Mexico. As the subducting plate sinks into the Earth it is melted by the heat and pressure, and volatile minerals liquify and rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling Mexico's volcanoes.

The location of Volcán de Colima. Google Maps.

See also...

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in southwest Puebla State, Mexico.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 53 km in southwest Puebla State in southern Mexico at...

Flights disrupted following eruption on Mount Popocatépetl.

Flights from Puebla International Airport in Mexico have been cancelled after an eruption from Mount Popocatépetl covered runways in ash on Tuesday 24 February 2015. The eruption also produced an ash column 4 km high, as well as throwing hot rocks...

Eruptions on Mount Popocatépetl.

Mount Popocatépetl in southern Mexico has undergone a series of violent eruptions over the past few days, according to the Centro Nacional de Provención de Desastres, the national agency in Mexico responsible for monitoring volcanic activity. The eruptions...

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