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Nevado del Tolima

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  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 4.658°N
  • 75.33°W

  • 5215 m
    17110 ft

  • 351030
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: June 2013 (BGVN 38:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Non-eruptive during 2005-2012; hazard assessment and glacial retreat

During 2005-2012, Nevado del Tolima was non-eruptive and the Alert Level remained at IV (Green; "volcanically active with stable behavior") due to minimal seismicity and deformation. The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) monitored Tolima with a seismic network, tilt measurements, and regular field observations. The greatest changes at Tolima during this time period were related to the summit glacier that generated significant seismicity and surface activity. Volcano-tectonic (VT) and long-period (LP) earthquakes were also detected with the monitoring network, although these events were frequently too small to locate.

In this report, we also highlight geological hazards investigations by Thouret and others (1995); among the hazards, runout distances for lahars were determined as well as potential ash distribution areas. Further, we include the results of long-term studies focused on the summit glacier (figure 2); investigators noted significant retreat based on aerial photos and later, with Landsat image analysis.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. A) A view toward the S flank of the glacier-clad summit of Tolima taken on 18 February 2010. Fresh snowfall highlights the morphology that includes lava flows and debris fans. B) A view of the N flank taken on 22 January 2010. The extent of the glacier appears in bright contrast to the yellow-gray and red colors of the altered summit rock. Courtesy of SGC.

Seismicity during March 2006 - December 2012. Based on volcano-tectonic (VT) and long-period (LP) earthquake counts, the SGC reported that low-level seismicity persisted during this reporting period (table 1). The occurrence of earthquakes was highest during 2006 when 22-90 VT and 5-20 LP events per month were recorded. From 2007 through 2012, VT and LP events occurred at a lower rate (0-73 VT per month and 0-17 LP per month).

Table 1. Monthly seismicity at Nevado del Tolima was tabulated by the occurrence of events: volcano-tectonic (VT), long-period (LP), Glacier & Rockfall, Unclassified, and Largest Earthquake magnitude. Events considered "Unclassified" are attributed to icequakes or rockfalls that do not fulfill the amplitude or duration parameters in order to be included in the SGC database. Note that these values have been corrected by the SGC database and differ from "Technical Bulletin" reports. Courtesy of SGC.

Month VT LP Glacier & Rockfall Unclassified Largest EQ
Mar 2006 48 17 1717 3295 1.58
Apr 2006 22 20 1150 2572 0.64
May 2006 35 17 1460 2331 0.95
Jun 2006 43 8 675 1551 1.08
Jul 2006 39 8 340 729 1.14
Aug 2006 26 9 352 927 0.81
Sep 2006 31 5 565 1254 1.01
Oct 2006 81 7 904 1639 1.35
Nov 2006 77 8 644 1735 1.53
Dec 2006 90 9 632 2221 1.45
Jan 2007 0 12 1218 2615 1.72
Feb 2007 4 0 979 3825 1.65
Mar 2007 7 1 1345 6513 0.64
Apr 2007 1 1 1171 5939 1.01
May 2007 21 0 1544 4129 1.02
Jun 2007 5 0 615 2107 0.64
Jul 2007 2 2 746 2165 1.14
Aug 2007 6 0 524 1692 2.27
Sep 2007 5 1 522 1472 0.7
Oct 2007 4 1 472 1115 1.96
Nov 2007 3 2 270 966 0.86
Dec 2007 7 0 434 1080 1.73
Jan 2008 3 0 318 968 0.55
Feb 2008 2 0 210 805 0.73
Mar 2008 1 0 275 1083 -0.4
Apr 2008 7 0 256 1453 1.62
May 2008 5 0 265 1931 2.63
Jun 2008 2 0 109 1207 0.88
Jul 2008 6 0 125 1148 1.4
Aug 2008 73 0 158 974 1.14
Sep 2008 12 0 118 864 1.02
Oct 2008 12 2 204 1157 0.81
Nov 2008 2 0 263 1515 0.35
Dec 2008 7 0 197 1242 0.45
Jan 2009 7 0 185 1490 0.64
Feb 2009 1 0 117 1017 0.45
Mar 2009 3 0 257 2272 0.88
Apr 2009 6 0 279 2245 1.3
May 2009 8 0 275 2360 0.73
Jun 2009 1 0 212 1846 0.88
Jul 2009 10 0 100 1127 0.95
Aug 2009 3 0 146 1881 2.2
Sep 2009 8 0 127 1867 0.64
Oct 2009 1 0 176 2757 0.23
Nov 2009 0 0 329 1994 0
Dec 2009 1 0 414 2055 -0.21
Jan 2010 4 0 678 1703 0.35
Feb 2010 0 1 637 1551 0.75
Mar 2010 6 1 698 1638 1.08
Apr 2010 0 1 878 1344 0.43
May 2010 1 2 742 1746 1.4
Jun 2010 0 1 491 1307 0.91
Jul 2010 0 1 505 1173 1.46
Aug 2010 0 0 329 1337 0
Sep 2010 0 1 425 860 0.7
Oct 2010 0 1 204 434 0.1
Nov 2010 5 2 314 1286 0.73
Dec 2010 2 2 256 1075 1.3
Jan 2011 0 0 197 1002 0
Feb 2011 3 2 393 1805 0.81
Mar 2011 1 3 978 443 1.45
Apr 2011 0 1 1370 1043 0.91
May 2011 1 4 1114 659 0.96
Jun 2011 2 1 692 252 1.02
Jul 2011 7 0 709 246 1.58
Aug 2011 0 1 897 216 0.81
Sep 2011 0 5 1404 388 1.22
Oct 2011 1 0 1665 427 0.88
Nov 2011 2 2 1890 601 0.73
Dec 2011 3 2 1923 927 0.96
Jan 2012 2 0 2033 740 0.55
Feb 2012 2 0 1471 159 0.81
Mar 2012 4 15 1348 95 0.75
Apr 2012 9 17 1379 310 1.65
May 2012 30 6 1740 417 1.58
Jun 2012 2 0 1290 372 1.02
Jul 2012 3 2 888 519 0.88
Aug 2012 0 0 792 988 0
Sep 2012 27 0 1077 847 1.45
Oct 2012 3 4 1920 1359 0.64
Nov 2012 2 4 1332 1289 1.08
Dec 2012 12 1 1873 na 1.2

Seismic signals attributed to glacial changes ("icequakes") and rockfalls dominated the records during 2006-2012. Frequently, more than 1,000 events were recorded per month. During 2008-2010, such events were slightly less frequent; an average of 313 earthquakes occurred per month. Coincidentally, LP events were significantly less frequent during that time period as well (less than one event per month). From March 2006 to July 2007, rockfall signals were attributed to surface activity mainly occurring on the N flank and related to small avalanches of ice and rock. The SGC noted that the general summit area was the source of shallow seismicity from mid 2010 through 2012.

Because of sparse activity and low-magnitude events, hypocentral depths of VT earthquakes were rarely calculated during 2006-2012 (table 2). Five earthquakes were located in September 2012, the most to be located in a single month. Three of these earthquakes were located > 5 km of the summit (NW and SE), while 2 were within 1 km (figure 3). That month, seismicity was relatively high compared with previous months; the SGC reported 27 VT earthquakes and 1,077 "Glacier & Rockfall" signals.

Table 2. The number of located VT earthquakes from Tolima during 2011-2012. Located earthquake information was not available for 2006-2010. Courtesy of SGC.

Date Earthquakes Depths (km) Location from Summit
Mar 2011 1 2 ~1 km, N
Jul 2012 1 4 ~6 km, NW
Sep 2012 5 3 & 4  --
Oct 2012 2 ~3.5  --
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. This map shows five located VT earthquakes in the region of Tolima during September 2012. Red and yellow circles indicate hypocenters and epicenters (colors relate to depths; circle size relates to event magnitude); black squares mark the locations of two seismic stations (ESME and NIDO); the summits of Nevado del Tolima and Nevado del Quindío (~10 km NW) are labeled and marked with green stars; approximate locations of towns are indicated by blue text. Courtesy of SGC.

Surface deformation monitoring. An electronic tilt station was installed in 2011 and, by May 2011, data from the Esmeralda station (~2 km W) was being relayed to the SGC Manizales observatory (figure 4). Through the rest of 2011 and 2012, tilt data suggested the effects of local temperatures and fluctuations were within the expected range of the instrument. Changes of 70-95 and 75-100 μrad from the N and E components, respectively, were recorded on a monthly basis. During August-December 2012, fluctuations in tilt were associated with changes in the summit glacier's mass as well as variability due to local temperature changes.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 4. Tilt data from Nevado del Tolima was recorded from the Esmeralda (ESME) station during May 2011 through December 2012. Primary fluctuations in this data were caused by local temperature variations and changes in glacial mass; a data gap occurred during August-October 2012 due to network problems. Courtesy of SGC.

Hazard assessment. Geologic mapping and a hazards analysis were conducted by Thouret and others (1995) (figure 5). They emphasized that they relied on the same appraisal methods as applied by Parra and others (1986) for Nevado del Ruiz. Three scenarios were developed based on three known events of different magnitudes (VEI 3, VEI 3-4, and VEI 4-5); the two plots within the lower left-hand inset map of figure 6 show the major characteristics of those scenarios.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 5. Stratigraphic, volcanic, and geomorphic map of Nevado del Tolima. Town locations are marked with yellow circles. Abbreviations of labeled faults within the blue-outlined inset map refer to the following: P.F.=Palestina Fault; O.-T.-F.=Otun-Pereira Fault; T.F.=Toche Fault; R.-T.F.=Recio-Tolima Fault. Modified from Thouret and others, 1995.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 6. This hazard map for Nevado del Tolima also includes Cerro Machín (located ~20 km SSW). Based on the work by Thourest and others (1995), the small circles drawn around Nevado del Tolima and Cerro Machín encompass areas likely to be affected by subplinian ballistic ejecta, whereas larger circles encompass areas likely to be seriously affected by plinian tephra-fall. Modified from Thouret and others, 1995.

Parameters for possible pyroclastic surges and ash-cloud surges were assessed for major valleys in the region, particularly Río Combeima, Río Totare and Río San Romualdo valleys, and the headwaters of Río Toche valleys (figure 6).

Rock or debris avalanches and lahars were also considered in the study; the authors stated that such events could be triggered by an earthquake or intrusion, and mobilized material had the likelihood of channelization within the deep Río Combeima gorge, a dangerous scenario due to the connectivity of the drainages that influence areas as distant as Ibague and Río Coello. Recent debris-flow deposits from volcanic and glacial sources dominated the aerial extent of the mapped region, particularly along the N slopes and within channels.

Thouret and others (1995) determined that lava flows would be the least hazardous phenomenon likely to occur; "extrusive activity [at Tolima] has been short-lived and is likely to produce block-lava flows such as those of young-Tolima age. Highly viscous and slow-moving block-lava flows could reach only 5-6 km when channeled, and likely move to the southeast or south. However, the very steep south flank would enable lava flows to travel more than 6 km if the chemical composition, physical properties, and hence viscosity of erupted magma changed."

Tolima glacial retreat. While hazards due to glacial ice interactions and volcanism were noted by some investigators (Thouret and others, 1995), other investigations of glaciers were conducted in this region due to interests in global climate change. An assessment conducted in 1976 concluded that five snowcapped volcanoes were present within the Parque Nacional de los Nevados: Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz (~25 km N of Tolima), Santa Isabel (~18 km NNW of Tolima), El Cisne (~20 km N of Tolima), and El Quindío (~10 km W of Tolima) (Hoyos-Patiño, 1998). According to Hoyos-Patiño (1998), El Cisne and El Quindío had almost lost their ice caps by 1976, maintaining less than 1 km2 of ephemeral snow- and ice-covered areas.

Glaciers and snowfields mapped by Landsat images of Tolima's summit in 1976 calculated a total area of 3.8 km2; aerial photo analysis from 1978 determined that 11 glaciers were present with a total area of 2.22 km2. Based on 2001 Landsat 7 image analysis by Morris and others (2006), the area of glacial extent was 1.26 km2; they calculated a loss of 43% from 1959 to 2001 (figure 7). For comparison, the largest ice loss from this region of Colombia occurred at Nevado del Ruiz, where ice coverage decreased from 21.4 km2 to 10.92 km2 during 1959-2001.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 7. Glacier and generalized drainages of Tolima as drawn from 1959 aerial photography. Area 1 represents the total icecap area of 7 km2 as determined in 1959. Area 2 was thin ice that deglaciated between 1959 and 1987. Area 3 was glaciated during the Little Ice Age. Area 4 was Holocene and uppermost Pleistocene tephra incised by snowmelt-fed, narrow, deep gullies. Area 5 represents the prehistorical scar, mounds, and deposits resulting from a rockslide-debris avalanche off the NE flank. Area 6 includes young and deeply carved deposits from debris flows and tephra-laden ice-and-snow avalanches near the crater and on the SW flank. Area 7 includes high, steep, eroded intrusions, necks, and lava flows, from the pre-existing summit. From Thouret and others, 1995.

References. Hoyos-Patiño, F., 1998: Glaciers of Colombia, p. I:11-30, in R. S. Williams and J. G. Ferrigno, eds: Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World: South America, U.S. Geological Survey Prof. Paper 1386-1, 1206 pp.

Morris, J.N., Poole, A.J., and Klein, A.G., 2006, Retreat of Tropical Glaciers in Colombia and Venezuela from 1984 to 2004 as Measured from ASTER and Landsat Images, 63rd Eastern Snow Conference, Newark, Delaware.

Thouret, J.C., Cantagrel, J-M., Robin, C., Murcia, A., Salinas, R., and Cepeda, H., 1995, Quaternary eruptive history and hazard-zone model at Nevado del Tolima and Cerro Machín volcanoes, Colombia. Journal of Volcanology Geothermal Research, 66 (1-4):397-426.

Information Contacts: María Luisa Monsalve, Gloria Patricia Cortés, and Lina Constanza García, Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, Avenida 12 Octubre 15-47, Manizales, Colombia (URL: https://www2.sgc.gov.co/volcanes/index.html).

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Nevado del Tolima.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

10/1988 (SEAN 13:10) Occasional seismicity; minor fumarolic activity

06/2013 (BGVN 38:06) Non-eruptive during 2005-2012; hazard assessment and glacial retreat




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


October 1988 (SEAN 13:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Occasional seismicity; minor fumarolic activity

Seismicity at Tolima was recorded in December 1987 and September-October 1988 by a telemetric station 2 km SE of the summit (figure 1). During October, as many as seven high-frequency events/day were recorded and minor fumarolic activity was observed. A 50-m-thick ice cap with an area of ~2 km2 covers the summit.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Number of earthquakes/day recorded by a seismic station 2 km SE of the summit, December 1987-October 1988. Courtesy of the Observatorio Vulcanológico de Colombia.

Information Contacts: C. Carvajal and F. Muñoz, INGEOMINAS, Manizales.


June 2013 (BGVN 38:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Non-eruptive during 2005-2012; hazard assessment and glacial retreat

During 2005-2012, Nevado del Tolima was non-eruptive and the Alert Level remained at IV (Green; "volcanically active with stable behavior") due to minimal seismicity and deformation. The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) monitored Tolima with a seismic network, tilt measurements, and regular field observations. The greatest changes at Tolima during this time period were related to the summit glacier that generated significant seismicity and surface activity. Volcano-tectonic (VT) and long-period (LP) earthquakes were also detected with the monitoring network, although these events were frequently too small to locate.

In this report, we also highlight geological hazards investigations by Thouret and others (1995); among the hazards, runout distances for lahars were determined as well as potential ash distribution areas. Further, we include the results of long-term studies focused on the summit glacier (figure 2); investigators noted significant retreat based on aerial photos and later, with Landsat image analysis.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. A) A view toward the S flank of the glacier-clad summit of Tolima taken on 18 February 2010. Fresh snowfall highlights the morphology that includes lava flows and debris fans. B) A view of the N flank taken on 22 January 2010. The extent of the glacier appears in bright contrast to the yellow-gray and red colors of the altered summit rock. Courtesy of SGC.

Seismicity during March 2006 - December 2012. Based on volcano-tectonic (VT) and long-period (LP) earthquake counts, the SGC reported that low-level seismicity persisted during this reporting period (table 1). The occurrence of earthquakes was highest during 2006 when 22-90 VT and 5-20 LP events per month were recorded. From 2007 through 2012, VT and LP events occurred at a lower rate (0-73 VT per month and 0-17 LP per month).

Table 1. Monthly seismicity at Nevado del Tolima was tabulated by the occurrence of events: volcano-tectonic (VT), long-period (LP), Glacier & Rockfall, Unclassified, and Largest Earthquake magnitude. Events considered "Unclassified" are attributed to icequakes or rockfalls that do not fulfill the amplitude or duration parameters in order to be included in the SGC database. Note that these values have been corrected by the SGC database and differ from "Technical Bulletin" reports. Courtesy of SGC.

Month VT LP Glacier & Rockfall Unclassified Largest EQ
Mar 2006 48 17 1717 3295 1.58
Apr 2006 22 20 1150 2572 0.64
May 2006 35 17 1460 2331 0.95
Jun 2006 43 8 675 1551 1.08
Jul 2006 39 8 340 729 1.14
Aug 2006 26 9 352 927 0.81
Sep 2006 31 5 565 1254 1.01
Oct 2006 81 7 904 1639 1.35
Nov 2006 77 8 644 1735 1.53
Dec 2006 90 9 632 2221 1.45
Jan 2007 0 12 1218 2615 1.72
Feb 2007 4 0 979 3825 1.65
Mar 2007 7 1 1345 6513 0.64
Apr 2007 1 1 1171 5939 1.01
May 2007 21 0 1544 4129 1.02
Jun 2007 5 0 615 2107 0.64
Jul 2007 2 2 746 2165 1.14
Aug 2007 6 0 524 1692 2.27
Sep 2007 5 1 522 1472 0.7
Oct 2007 4 1 472 1115 1.96
Nov 2007 3 2 270 966 0.86
Dec 2007 7 0 434 1080 1.73
Jan 2008 3 0 318 968 0.55
Feb 2008 2 0 210 805 0.73
Mar 2008 1 0 275 1083 -0.4
Apr 2008 7 0 256 1453 1.62
May 2008 5 0 265 1931 2.63
Jun 2008 2 0 109 1207 0.88
Jul 2008 6 0 125 1148 1.4
Aug 2008 73 0 158 974 1.14
Sep 2008 12 0 118 864 1.02
Oct 2008 12 2 204 1157 0.81
Nov 2008 2 0 263 1515 0.35
Dec 2008 7 0 197 1242 0.45
Jan 2009 7 0 185 1490 0.64
Feb 2009 1 0 117 1017 0.45
Mar 2009 3 0 257 2272 0.88
Apr 2009 6 0 279 2245 1.3
May 2009 8 0 275 2360 0.73
Jun 2009 1 0 212 1846 0.88
Jul 2009 10 0 100 1127 0.95
Aug 2009 3 0 146 1881 2.2
Sep 2009 8 0 127 1867 0.64
Oct 2009 1 0 176 2757 0.23
Nov 2009 0 0 329 1994 0
Dec 2009 1 0 414 2055 -0.21
Jan 2010 4 0 678 1703 0.35
Feb 2010 0 1 637 1551 0.75
Mar 2010 6 1 698 1638 1.08
Apr 2010 0 1 878 1344 0.43
May 2010 1 2 742 1746 1.4
Jun 2010 0 1 491 1307 0.91
Jul 2010 0 1 505 1173 1.46
Aug 2010 0 0 329 1337 0
Sep 2010 0 1 425 860 0.7
Oct 2010 0 1 204 434 0.1
Nov 2010 5 2 314 1286 0.73
Dec 2010 2 2 256 1075 1.3
Jan 2011 0 0 197 1002 0
Feb 2011 3 2 393 1805 0.81
Mar 2011 1 3 978 443 1.45
Apr 2011 0 1 1370 1043 0.91
May 2011 1 4 1114 659 0.96
Jun 2011 2 1 692 252 1.02
Jul 2011 7 0 709 246 1.58
Aug 2011 0 1 897 216 0.81
Sep 2011 0 5 1404 388 1.22
Oct 2011 1 0 1665 427 0.88
Nov 2011 2 2 1890 601 0.73
Dec 2011 3 2 1923 927 0.96
Jan 2012 2 0 2033 740 0.55
Feb 2012 2 0 1471 159 0.81
Mar 2012 4 15 1348 95 0.75
Apr 2012 9 17 1379 310 1.65
May 2012 30 6 1740 417 1.58
Jun 2012 2 0 1290 372 1.02
Jul 2012 3 2 888 519 0.88
Aug 2012 0 0 792 988 0
Sep 2012 27 0 1077 847 1.45
Oct 2012 3 4 1920 1359 0.64
Nov 2012 2 4 1332 1289 1.08
Dec 2012 12 1 1873 na 1.2

Seismic signals attributed to glacial changes ("icequakes") and rockfalls dominated the records during 2006-2012. Frequently, more than 1,000 events were recorded per month. During 2008-2010, such events were slightly less frequent; an average of 313 earthquakes occurred per month. Coincidentally, LP events were significantly less frequent during that time period as well (less than one event per month). From March 2006 to July 2007, rockfall signals were attributed to surface activity mainly occurring on the N flank and related to small avalanches of ice and rock. The SGC noted that the general summit area was the source of shallow seismicity from mid 2010 through 2012.

Because of sparse activity and low-magnitude events, hypocentral depths of VT earthquakes were rarely calculated during 2006-2012 (table 2). Five earthquakes were located in September 2012, the most to be located in a single month. Three of these earthquakes were located > 5 km of the summit (NW and SE), while 2 were within 1 km (figure 3). That month, seismicity was relatively high compared with previous months; the SGC reported 27 VT earthquakes and 1,077 "Glacier & Rockfall" signals.

Table 2. The number of located VT earthquakes from Tolima during 2011-2012. Located earthquake information was not available for 2006-2010. Courtesy of SGC.

Date Earthquakes Depths (km) Location from Summit
Mar 2011 1 2 ~1 km, N
Jul 2012 1 4 ~6 km, NW
Sep 2012 5 3 & 4  --
Oct 2012 2 ~3.5  --
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. This map shows five located VT earthquakes in the region of Tolima during September 2012. Red and yellow circles indicate hypocenters and epicenters (colors relate to depths; circle size relates to event magnitude); black squares mark the locations of two seismic stations (ESME and NIDO); the summits of Nevado del Tolima and Nevado del Quindío (~10 km NW) are labeled and marked with green stars; approximate locations of towns are indicated by blue text. Courtesy of SGC.

Surface deformation monitoring. An electronic tilt station was installed in 2011 and, by May 2011, data from the Esmeralda station (~2 km W) was being relayed to the SGC Manizales observatory (figure 4). Through the rest of 2011 and 2012, tilt data suggested the effects of local temperatures and fluctuations were within the expected range of the instrument. Changes of 70-95 and 75-100 μrad from the N and E components, respectively, were recorded on a monthly basis. During August-December 2012, fluctuations in tilt were associated with changes in the summit glacier's mass as well as variability due to local temperature changes.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 4. Tilt data from Nevado del Tolima was recorded from the Esmeralda (ESME) station during May 2011 through December 2012. Primary fluctuations in this data were caused by local temperature variations and changes in glacial mass; a data gap occurred during August-October 2012 due to network problems. Courtesy of SGC.

Hazard assessment. Geologic mapping and a hazards analysis were conducted by Thouret and others (1995) (figure 5). They emphasized that they relied on the same appraisal methods as applied by Parra and others (1986) for Nevado del Ruiz. Three scenarios were developed based on three known events of different magnitudes (VEI 3, VEI 3-4, and VEI 4-5); the two plots within the lower left-hand inset map of figure 6 show the major characteristics of those scenarios.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 5. Stratigraphic, volcanic, and geomorphic map of Nevado del Tolima. Town locations are marked with yellow circles. Abbreviations of labeled faults within the blue-outlined inset map refer to the following: P.F.=Palestina Fault; O.-T.-F.=Otun-Pereira Fault; T.F.=Toche Fault; R.-T.F.=Recio-Tolima Fault. Modified from Thouret and others, 1995.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 6. This hazard map for Nevado del Tolima also includes Cerro Machín (located ~20 km SSW). Based on the work by Thourest and others (1995), the small circles drawn around Nevado del Tolima and Cerro Machín encompass areas likely to be affected by subplinian ballistic ejecta, whereas larger circles encompass areas likely to be seriously affected by plinian tephra-fall. Modified from Thouret and others, 1995.

Parameters for possible pyroclastic surges and ash-cloud surges were assessed for major valleys in the region, particularly Río Combeima, Río Totare and Río San Romualdo valleys, and the headwaters of Río Toche valleys (figure 6).

Rock or debris avalanches and lahars were also considered in the study; the authors stated that such events could be triggered by an earthquake or intrusion, and mobilized material had the likelihood of channelization within the deep Río Combeima gorge, a dangerous scenario due to the connectivity of the drainages that influence areas as distant as Ibague and Río Coello. Recent debris-flow deposits from volcanic and glacial sources dominated the aerial extent of the mapped region, particularly along the N slopes and within channels.

Thouret and others (1995) determined that lava flows would be the least hazardous phenomenon likely to occur; "extrusive activity [at Tolima] has been short-lived and is likely to produce block-lava flows such as those of young-Tolima age. Highly viscous and slow-moving block-lava flows could reach only 5-6 km when channeled, and likely move to the southeast or south. However, the very steep south flank would enable lava flows to travel more than 6 km if the chemical composition, physical properties, and hence viscosity of erupted magma changed."

Tolima glacial retreat. While hazards due to glacial ice interactions and volcanism were noted by some investigators (Thouret and others, 1995), other investigations of glaciers were conducted in this region due to interests in global climate change. An assessment conducted in 1976 concluded that five snowcapped volcanoes were present within the Parque Nacional de los Nevados: Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz (~25 km N of Tolima), Santa Isabel (~18 km NNW of Tolima), El Cisne (~20 km N of Tolima), and El Quindío (~10 km W of Tolima) (Hoyos-Patiño, 1998). According to Hoyos-Patiño (1998), El Cisne and El Quindío had almost lost their ice caps by 1976, maintaining less than 1 km2 of ephemeral snow- and ice-covered areas.

Glaciers and snowfields mapped by Landsat images of Tolima's summit in 1976 calculated a total area of 3.8 km2; aerial photo analysis from 1978 determined that 11 glaciers were present with a total area of 2.22 km2. Based on 2001 Landsat 7 image analysis by Morris and others (2006), the area of glacial extent was 1.26 km2; they calculated a loss of 43% from 1959 to 2001 (figure 7). For comparison, the largest ice loss from this region of Colombia occurred at Nevado del Ruiz, where ice coverage decreased from 21.4 km2 to 10.92 km2 during 1959-2001.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 7. Glacier and generalized drainages of Tolima as drawn from 1959 aerial photography. Area 1 represents the total icecap area of 7 km2 as determined in 1959. Area 2 was thin ice that deglaciated between 1959 and 1987. Area 3 was glaciated during the Little Ice Age. Area 4 was Holocene and uppermost Pleistocene tephra incised by snowmelt-fed, narrow, deep gullies. Area 5 represents the prehistorical scar, mounds, and deposits resulting from a rockslide-debris avalanche off the NE flank. Area 6 includes young and deeply carved deposits from debris flows and tephra-laden ice-and-snow avalanches near the crater and on the SW flank. Area 7 includes high, steep, eroded intrusions, necks, and lava flows, from the pre-existing summit. From Thouret and others, 1995.

References. Hoyos-Patiño, F., 1998: Glaciers of Colombia, p. I:11-30, in R. S. Williams and J. G. Ferrigno, eds: Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World: South America, U.S. Geological Survey Prof. Paper 1386-1, 1206 pp.

Morris, J.N., Poole, A.J., and Klein, A.G., 2006, Retreat of Tropical Glaciers in Colombia and Venezuela from 1984 to 2004 as Measured from ASTER and Landsat Images, 63rd Eastern Snow Conference, Newark, Delaware.

Thouret, J.C., Cantagrel, J-M., Robin, C., Murcia, A., Salinas, R., and Cepeda, H., 1995, Quaternary eruptive history and hazard-zone model at Nevado del Tolima and Cerro Machín volcanoes, Colombia. Journal of Volcanology Geothermal Research, 66 (1-4):397-426.

Information Contacts: María Luisa Monsalve, Gloria Patricia Cortés, and Lina Constanza García, Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, Avenida 12 Octubre 15-47, Manizales, Colombia (URL: https://www2.sgc.gov.co/volcanes/index.html).

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 12 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1943 Mar Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1943 Mar - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1943 Mar    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1826 May - 1826 Jun 17 (in or after) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1826 May - 1826 Jun 17 (in or after) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1826 May    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1825 Mar 2 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1825 Mar 2 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1825 Mar 2
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1822 Nov (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1822 Nov (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1822 Nov
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

0260 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0260 ± 150 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
0260 ± 150 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

0200 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0200 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
0200 BCE ± 200 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

0610 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0610 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
0610 BCE ± 200 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1990 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1990 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
1990 BCE ± 200 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

3500 BCE ± 300 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
3500 BCE ± 300 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

5160 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
5160 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

5310 BCE ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
5310 BCE ± 100 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria

7800 BCE ± 300 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
7800 BCE ± 300 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
7800 BCE ± 300 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Nevado del Tolima.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Nevado del Tolima.

GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Nevado del Tolima in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites