Is there a possible connection between the eruption of the Cerro Negro (Nicaragua) on 3 Nov 1999, and the presence of the hurricane Mitch at the same time?
Volcanoes
do respond to changes in the pressure that is
placed on them by such forces as the tides (Moon and Sun),
so it is possible that the hurricane caused additional
pressure on the volcano by adding water and the force
from waves. However, this can only had an effect if the
volcano is already near eruption and just needs a little
push to set it off.
I would rather doubt in this case that
hurricane had much, if any, effect in the Cerro Negro
eruption. Japan and the Philippine islands get hurricanes
all the time and there is no known correlation of hurricanes
and volcanic eruptions in these very volcanically-active
countries.
Dr. Mike Garcia, Professor
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
University of Hawaii, Honolulu HI 96822
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