Geoscience technical cooperation to enhance the volcano monitoring capacity at Pacaya volcano, Guatemala

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

© 2015 SEG. Volcanic risk management and monitoring background The risk to human life and properties due to volcanic activity is very high in some regions of the world. Such is the case of Pacaya volcano, located in Guatemala, which has produced a series of damaging and in some cases fatal eruptions, since prehistoric times, documented in the known historical record, beginning in the 16th century, and particularly well known for the last 50 years (Kitamura and Matias, 1995; Rose et al., 2013; Matias et al. 2012). The global database of volcanic incidents compiled by Witham (2005) shows Pacaya amongst the volcanoes with most recurrent events of this type worldwide during the 20th century. Recently a series of eruptions have caused fatalities and extensive damage to the local and national economy, including the May 2010 eruption (Wardman, 2012), prompting the Guatemalan government authorities and people in the affected communities to focus their efforts in reducing the risk from such eruptions. Funded by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, through the NGO Geologists Without Border, we are pursuing a project to enhance the volcano monitoring capacity of the local volcano observatory, at the Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) in charge of forecasting the activity at Pacaya volcano, in collaboration with the San Carlos University (USAC) and the Pacaya Volcano National Park authority (PVNP).

Publication Title

SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts

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