Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The eruption of Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala highlights region vulnerability to volcanic disasters emphasizing need for effective emergency response & international cooperation.

Volcán de Fuego

Volcano of Fire is an active stratovolcano situated in Guatemala, Central America near historic city of Antigua.

It stands at an elevation of 3,763 meters (12,346 feet) above sea level making it one of tallest active volcanoes in region.

The volcano is part of Central America Volcanic Arc zone of intense volcanic activity stretching from Mexico to Costa Rica.

2002 Eruption: This eruption resulted in ash plumes that affected nearby communities, disrupting air travel & agriculture.

2015 Eruption: Fuego displayed its classic explosive style emitting ash & lava flows but there were no major casualties due to effective evacuation efforts.

2018 Eruption: The eruption was one of most devastating in recent history with pyroclastic flows & ash covering entire villages in the Escuintla region.

Fuego is a stratovolcano meaning it has a steep profile formed by accumulation of hardened lava flows, pyroclastic deposits & ash.

It is known for its pyroclastic flows which are fast moving currents of hot gas, ash, rock that pose significant risks to nearby populations due to their speed & intensity. Lava flows while less frequent are also hazard during major eruptions.

Fuego is closely monitored by the Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología(INSIVUMEH) which uses variety of tools including seismographs, satellite imagery, gas emissions measurements to predict eruptions and provide early warnings.

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) 7 other methods are used to understand composition of magma & its movement which helps scientists predict potential scale & timing of eruptions. Escuintla: The nearest city to Fuego, which is regularly affected by ash falls and lava flows.

Alotenango: A town that has experienced evacuation multiple times due to eruptions especially after deadly 2018 eruption.

Antigua: Though Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & a major tourist destination it lies within volcanic hazard zone making it vulnerable to ash fallout & pyroclastic flows during larger eruptions.

Ash clouds can affect agricultural production in fertile volcanic soils surrounding the volcano.

Crops such as coffee, bananas, corn are particularly vulnerable to ash fall which can damage plants & contaminate water supplies.

The eruption also affects regional air travel as ash clouds can disrupt flights especially at nearby Guatemala City La Aurora International Airport.

The lessons learned from Fuego activity also have broader implications for understanding volcanic activity on other planets especially moons like Io (Jupiter moon) which is characterized by similar volcanic features.

Major volcanoes around Volcán de Fuego

Volcano	Location	Elevation	Type	Activity	Notable Characteristics
Volcán de Fuego	Guatemala	3,763 m (12,346 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, frequent eruptions	Explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lava flows; frequent ash plumes.
Volcán Pacaya	Guatemala	2,552 m (8,343 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, frequent eruptions	Frequent lava flows, ash clouds, and explosive eruptions.
Izalco	El Salvador	1,950 m (6,398 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active (recent eruptions)	Known as the "Lighthouse of the Pacific" due to its continuous eruptions.
San Miguel	El Salvador	2,130 m (6,988 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, recent eruptions	Frequently erupts, with lava flows and ash emissions.
Tecapa	El Salvador	1,400 m (4,593 ft)	Caldera	Dormant	Large volcanic depression; occasionally active.
Conchagua	El Salvador	1,340 m (4,396 ft)	Stratovolcano	Dormant	Known for past explosive eruptions.
Arenal	Costa Rica	1,670 m (5,476 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active (eruption ceased in 2010)	One of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica; known for frequent lava eruptions.
Poás	Costa Rica	2,708 m (8,891 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, intermittent eruptions	Active crater with an acid lake and steam emissions.
Turrialba	Costa Rica	3,340 m (10,958 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, frequent eruptions	Known for gas emissions and explosive activity.
Masaya	Nicaragua	635 m (2,083 ft)	Caldera	Active	Active lava lake and continuous volcanic gas emissions.
Cerro Negro	Nicaragua	728 m (2,388 ft)	Scoria Cone	Active, frequent eruptions	Known for its explosive eruptions and lava flows.
Momotombo	Nicaragua	1,297 m (4,255 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, recent eruptions	Explosive eruptions with ash columns.
Santiago	Nicaragua	1,100 m (3,609 ft)	Stratovolcano	Active, recent eruptions	Known for explosive activity and lava flows.
Mount St. Helens	United States (USA)	2,550 m (8,363 ft)	Stratovolcano	Dormant, last eruption in 2008	Famous for its 1980 eruption, significant pyroclastic flows and ash clouds.
Mount Taal	Philippines	311 m (1,020 ft)	Caldera	Active, frequent eruptions	Known for lake-filled caldera and frequent explosive eruptions.

Different types of Volcanoes

Volcano Type	Characteristics	Eruption Style	Examples
Shield Volcano	Large, broad, gently sloping sides Formed by low-viscosity lava Non-explosive eruptions	Non-explosive, lava flows	Mauna Loa (Hawaii), Olympus Mons (Mars)
Stratovolcano	Steep, large sides Built by alternating layers of lava and ash Explosive eruptions with pyroclastic flows and ash clouds	Explosive, pyroclastic flows	Mount St. Helens (USA), Mount Fuji (Japan), Volcán de Fuego (Guatemala)
Cinder Cone	Small, steep-sided cones Formed by accumulation of volcanic debris (ash, cinders, tephra) Short-lived eruptions, less hazardous	Explosive, ash and tephra	Parícutin (Mexico), Sunset Crater (USA)
Lava Dome	Steep-sided, dome-shaped mounds Formed by highly viscous lava that piles up near the vent Slow eruptions, can block lava flows	Slow, viscous lava	Novarupta Lava Dome (Alaska), Mount St. Helens Lava Dome (USA)
Caldera	Large, depression-like structure formed by the collapse of a volcano's magma chamber Often filled with water, creating lakes or geysers	Collapse, explosive	Yellowstone (USA), Lake Toba (Indonesia), Crater Lake (USA)
Fissure Volcano	Long cracks or fissures through which lava erupts Non-explosive eruptions, lava flows from cracks	Non-explosive, lava flows	Laki Fissure (Iceland), East African Rift Valley
Supervolcano	Extremely large volcanic system Capable of producing eruptions with global impact Form massive calderas	Explosive, massive eruptions	Yellowstone Supervolcano (USA), Lake Toba (Indonesia)

Sources:

REPUBLIC WORLD

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of following statements are true regarding volcanoes?

Stratovolcanoes are known for their explosive eruptions & steep, conical structure.
Shield volcanoes are characterized by explosive eruptions & steep slopes.
Cinder cone volcanoes form through the accumulation of pyroclastic material & are generally smaller in size.
Caldera volcanoes are formed by collapse of magma chamber after massive eruption creating large depression.

Select correct answer using the codes below:

A) 1, 3, and 4 only
B) 1, 2, and 4 only
C) 2, 3, and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Correct Answer: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. Stratovolcanoes are indeed known for their explosive eruptions and steep, conical structure.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Shield volcanoes unlike stratovolcanoes are characterized by non-explosive eruptions and gentle slopes not steep ones.

Statement 3 is correct. Cinder cone volcanoes form by accumulation of pyroclastic material (ash, cinders, tephra) & they are typically smaller in size.

Statement 4 is correct. Caldera volcanoes are formed by collapse of a magma chamber after a massive eruption leading to a large depression.