Report on Santa Maria (Guatemala) — 6 July-12 July 2016
Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
6 July-12 July 2016
Managing Editor: Sally Kuhn Sennert
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2016. Report on Santa Maria (Guatemala). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 6 July-12 July 2016. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
14.757°N, 91.552°W; summit elev. 3745 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
INSIVUMEH reported that during 7-8 July explosions at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose as high as 1 km and drifted 10 km S and W. On 10 July a strong, loud explosion was followed by pyroclastic flows that traveled 2 km down the S and SW flanks, and an ash plume that rose 3 km and drifted 40 km W. INSIVUMEH reminded the public to stay at least 5 km away from the volcano. Gas plumes rose from the crater during 11-12 July.
Geological Summary. Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María volcano is part of a chain of large stratovolcanoes that rise above the Pacific coastal plain of Guatemala. The sharp-topped, conical profile is cut on the SW flank by a 1.5-km-wide crater. The oval-shaped crater extends from just below the summit to the lower flank, and was formed during a catastrophic eruption in 1902. The renowned Plinian eruption of 1902 that devastated much of SW Guatemala followed a long repose period after construction of the large basaltic-andesite stratovolcano. The massive dacitic Santiaguito lava-dome complex has been growing at the base of the 1902 crater since 1922. Compound dome growth at Santiaguito has occurred episodically from four vents, with activity progressing W towards the most recent, Caliente. Dome growth has been accompanied by almost continuous minor explosions, with periodic lava extrusion, larger explosions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars.