Based on analysis of satellite imagery, the Washington VAAC reported that on 18 February a dense ash plume from Santa María’s Santiaguito lava dome complex drifted W. On 20 February, INSIVUMEH reported that an explosion produced an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 3.2 km (10,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. On 24 February, an explosion produced a white plume that rose 500 m above the summit and drifted SW. Incandescence was seen SW of Caliente dome.
Sources: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH), Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) – “Reports provided courtesy of the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program and the US Geological Survey’s Volcano Hazards Program.”
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