Report on Nevado del Huila (Colombia) — 9 December-15 December 2009
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 9 December-15 December 2009
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2009. Report on Nevado del Huila (Colombia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 9 December-15 December 2009. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Nevado del Huila
Colombia
2.93°N, 76.03°W; summit elev. 5364 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Based on information from the Bogata MWO, the Washington VAAC reported that on 10 December an ash plume rose to an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S. Ash was not identified in satellite imagery due to meteorological clouds in the area. INGEOMINAS reported that during 9-15 December seismic signals indicated occasional gas-and-ash emissions. White and bluish gas plumes seen on the web camera rose 2 km. Overflights revealed that the lava dome continued to grow and emit gases.
Geological Summary. Nevado del Huila, the highest peak in the Colombian Andes, is an elongated N-S-trending volcanic chain mantled by a glacier icecap. The andesitic-dacitic volcano was constructed within a 10-km-wide caldera. Volcanism at Nevado del Huila has produced six volcanic cones whose ages in general migrated from south to north. The high point of the complex is Pico Central. Two glacier-free lava domes lie at the southern end of the volcanic complex. The first historical activity was an explosive eruption in the mid-16th century. Long-term, persistent steam columns had risen from Pico Central prior to the next eruption in 2007, when explosive activity was accompanied by damaging mudflows.
Sources: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)