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Report on Ubinas (Peru) — 24 July-30 July 2019


Ubinas

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 July-30 July 2019
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2019. Report on Ubinas (Peru) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 July-30 July 2019. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (24 July-30 July 2019)

Ubinas

Peru

16.345°S, 70.8972°W; summit elev. 5608 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


IGP reported that activity at Ubinas continued to be elevated after the 19 July explosions. A total of 1,522 earthquakes, all with magnitudes under 2.2, were recorded during 20-24 July. Explosions were detected at 0718 and 2325 on 22 July. The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that an ash plume rising to 9.4 km (31,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting SE was identified in satellite data at 0040 on 22 July. Continuous steam-and-gas emissions with sporadic pulses of ash were visible in webcam views during the rest of the day. Ash emissions near the summit crater were periodically visible on 24 July though often partially hidden by weather clouds. Ash plumes were visible in satellite images rising to 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. Diffuse ash emissions near the crater were visible on 25 July, though a thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images. During 26-28 July there were 503 people evacuated from areas affected by ashfall.

Geological Summary. The truncated appearance of Ubinas, Perú's most active volcano, is a result of a 1.4-km-wide crater at the summit. It is the northernmost of three young volcanoes located along a regional structural lineament about 50 km behind the main volcanic front. The growth and destruction of Ubinas I was followed by construction of Ubinas II beginning in the mid-Pleistocene. The upper slopes of the andesitic-to-rhyolitic Ubinas II stratovolcano are composed primarily of andesitic and trachyandesitic lava flows and steepen to nearly 45°. The steep-walled, 150-m-deep summit crater contains an ash cone with a 500-m-wide funnel-shaped vent that is 200 m deep. Debris-avalanche deposits from the collapse of the SE flank about 3,700 years ago extend 10 km from the volcano. Widespread Plinian pumice-fall deposits include one from about 1,000 years ago. Holocene lava flows are visible on the flanks, but activity documented since the 16th century has consisted of intermittent minor-to-moderate explosive eruptions.

Sources: Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP), Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Gobierno Regional de Moquegua