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Report on Purace (Colombia) — 22 November-28 November 2023


Purace

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 November-28 November 2023
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2023. Report on Purace (Colombia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 November-28 November 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (22 November-28 November 2023)

Purace

Colombia

2.3095°N, 76.3948°W; summit elev. 4650 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Popayán, Servicio Geologico Colombiano (SGC) reported that at 1929 on 16 November the seismic network recorded a signal at Puracé associated with an ash-and-gas emission. Ash deposits on the N flank were confirmed by an observer the next day. SGC noted that localized deformation between Puracé and Curiquinga volcanoes continued to be recorded. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions had stable values, but carbon dioxide concentrations were high compared to values recorded so far in 2023. The Alert Level remained at Yellow (the second lowest on a four-color scale).

Geological Summary. Puracé is an active andesitic volcano with a 600-m-diameter summit crater at the NW end of the Los Coconucos Volcanic Chain. This volcanic complex includes nine composite and five monogenetic volcanoes, extending from the Puracé crater more than 6 km SE to the summit of Pan de Azúcar stratovolcano. The dacitic massif which the complex is built on extends about 13 km NW-SE and 10 km NE-SW. Frequent small to moderate explosive eruptions reported since 1816 CE have modified the morphology of the summit crater, with the largest eruptions in 1849, 1869, and 1885.

Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)