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Report on Turrialba (Costa Rica) — 26 August-1 September 2020


Turrialba

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 August-1 September 2020
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2020. Report on Turrialba (Costa Rica) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 August-1 September 2020. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (26 August-1 September 2020)

Turrialba

Costa Rica

10.025°N, 83.767°W; summit elev. 3340 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


On 21 August OVSICORI-UNA reported that fracturing of SW wall of Turrialba’s active crater, along with an area of incandescence within the fracture zone, had been observed during the previous month. An eruption was recorded at 1253 on 22 August, though a plume was not visible due to weather conditions. At 2301 on 24 August a plume rose 1 km above the crater rim.

Geological Summary. Turrialba, the easternmost of Costa Rica's Holocene volcanoes, is a large vegetated basaltic-to-dacitic stratovolcano located across a broad saddle NE of Irazú volcano overlooking the city of Cartago. The massive edifice covers an area of 500 km2. Three well-defined craters occur at the upper SW end of a broad 800 x 2200 m summit depression that is breached to the NE. Most activity originated from the summit vent complex, but two pyroclastic cones are located on the SW flank. Five major explosive eruptions have occurred during the past 3500 years. A series of explosive eruptions during the 19th century were sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows. Fumarolic activity continues at the central and SW summit craters.

Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA)