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Report on Purace (Colombia) — 1 May-7 May 2024


Purace

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 May-7 May 2024
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2024. Report on Purace (Colombia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 May-7 May 2024. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (1 May-7 May 2024)

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 the number of both volcanic tremor (VT) and long-period (LP) seismic events at Puracé increased during 23-29 April. The events had low magnitudes and were located at depths of 0-5 km; the VT events were located beneath the Puracé, Piocollo, and Curiquinga cones. Sulfur dioxide emissions had increased in the previous few weeks and carbon dioxide emissions continued to be above baseline levels at a fumarole on the N crater rim. Slow deformation which began in April 2022 between Puracé and Curiquinga was ongoing.

Both the number and intensity of earthquake events suddenly increased during 29-30 April. Seismicity continued to be elevated during 1-3 May and, along with continuing deformation and increases in gas emissions and other monitoring data, the activity was sustained at a higher level. On 3 May the Alert Level was raised to Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). During 3-4 May gas-and-steam emissions rose 1.4 km above the summit and drifted W. Seismicity during 3-6 May continued to increase; VT events were mainly located beneath Puracé at depths less than 4 km and LP events were located beneath the crater and the N flank at depths less than 1 km. Additionally, very low-magnitude events indicating rising magma were located at depths of 1-3.5 km beneath Piocollo and Curiquinga.

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)