Momotombo volcano erupting in Papalonal community in La Paz Centro, Leon, Nicaragua on December 2, 2015. AFP/Getty Images Every year, there seems to be a country that is having more than its fair share of volcanic eruptions. This is the sort of thing that happens when you have a random distribution of volcanic eruptions over time (and space to some degree, along the areas that have volcanoes). This year, it is Nicaragua that seems to be the focus of eruptions---at least more so than usual. The biggest newsmaker is Momotombo, where the volcano has produced numerous explosive eruptions over the last few weeks, including some that have been quite spectacular (see above and below), sending ash as high as ~3.6 kilometers (12,000 feet). Some of the images of the eruption look downright Tolkienian, but really what is being seen in the night images is all the glowing volcanic debris covering the upper slopes of Momotombo. The eruption's main hazard has been ash falling on the area around Momotombo, so authorities in Nicaragua are maintaining a 6-km exclusion zone around the volcano. Over the past few days, the volcano has settled down some and currently is just emitting a thin steam-and-volcanic gas plume. You can watch the explosions live on some of the INETER webcams, including this one that has one of the best views of the volcano.
Amazing #aerial view of #Momotombo#volcano#eruption#Nicaragua Photo by Rick Doolittle pic.twitter.com/b4ironptvO
