An ash column rises above Caliente vent at Santiaguito in February 1988. Eruptions at this time took place at intervals of 1 or 2 per hour, and consisted of brief 1-2 minute ash emissions that reached altitudes of about 4 km (slightly above the elevation of the summit of Santa María, from where the photo was taken). Light dacitic ashfalls from these small explosions affected areas to about 6 km from the vent.

Photo by Jon Fink, Arizona State University, 1988 (courtesy of Bill Rose, Michigan Technological University).

Santa María