The Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia in Guatemala has reported a series of eruptions on Mount Fuego, a stratovolcano (cone shaped volcano made up of layers of ash and lava) that forms part of La Horqueta volcanic complex in the southern part of the country. Between 26 August and 1 September 2020, the volcano produced small explosions 6-12 times per hour, and generated a series of ash columns that rose to as high as 1.1 km above its summit, and drifted for up to 20 km, combined with incandescent material being thrown 100-300 m into the air. Avalanches of blocky debris were observed on the west and southwest sides of the volcano, some reaching as far as the vegetation line. Communities to the west, southwest, and northwest of the volcano reported ashfalls at distances of up to 12 km. On 10 September a lava flow was observed on the southwest flank of the volcano, which by 12 September had elongated to 700 m in length. This was again accompanied by explosive eruptions producing ash columns up to 1.1 km high, though the activity subsequently subsided, and by 15 September the active part of the lava flow was only about 100 m in length.
Fuego has been more-or-less constantly active at some level since records in the area began (circa 1524). It forms part of La Horqueta volcanic complex, which also includes the Acatenango volcano to the north, a complex volcano with at least five separate vents, the complex siting on the site of the ancient Meseta volcano, which is thought to have collapsed following a major volcanic episode about 8500 years ago, causing a debris flow that reached the sea, 50 km away.
The volcanoes of Guatemala, and Central America in general, are fed by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate along the Middle American Trench, which runs roughly parallel to the southwest coast of the isthmus. As the Cocos Plate sinks into the Earth, it passes under Central America, which lies on the western margin of the Caribbean Plate. As this happens it is heated by the friction and the heat of the planet's interior, causing the sinking plate to partially melt. Some of the melted material then rises through the overlying Caribbean Plate as magma, fuelling the volcanoes of Central America.
See also...
Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.
