Volcanic hazards pose by Tacaná to the Soconusco region

Summary

The Tacaná Volcanic Complex consists of four volcanic edifices: Chichuj, Tacaná, and San Antonio volcanoes, and Las Ardillas dome. It began its formation ~225 ka yr ago at Chichuj, followed by Tacaná ~50 ka, and San Antonio volcano and las Ardillas Dome during late Pleistocene. Its volcanic history recorded during the past 50 ka yr indicates that the complex has experienced major flank failures at Tacaná (~15 ka) and San Antonio (~2 ka). The latter destroyed the southern flank of San Antonio producing a pyroclastic density current and subsequent lahars that caused the abandonment of Izapa. Recent studies indicate that the complex has experienced at least four Plinian-Subplinian eruptions to of which rank ~5 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index dispersing ash towards Guatemala. The complex has also had at least nine other smaller explosive eruptions during the Holocene. The largest of them took place ~10 ka affecting locations up to 6 km from the main summit. The youngest of these eruptions surprisingly occurred ~150 years BP disrupting the Tacana´s summit area. Therefore, the 1949 and 1986 phreatic explosions of Tacaná are only a small reminder of its potential threat to the surrounding populations.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• New Perspectives on the Izapa State

Keywords

Spatial Coverage