Pyroclastic Flow Deposits close to Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. The scale of these deposits, formed in 2012, can be seen against the scale of the person standing in the background [dark line, just above the red shrub]. Pyroclastic flows, alongside lahars, are two of the most significant and destructive volcanic hazards associated with Volcan de Fuego. You can read more about Fuego and its secondary ...[Read More]
Volcanoes
Images of Guatemala (1) – Volcan de Fuego
Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Taken from the adjacent peak of Acatenango, this photograph captures ones of the many small eruptions of the volcano named Fuego (the Spanish word for fire!). Fuego, formed by the subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the Caribbean plate, is an active basaltic stratovolcano. You can read more about Fuego and its eruptive history online here. (Credit: Geology for Global ...[Read More]
Guest Blog: Volcanology in Vanuatu!
Ben Clarke and Eleri Simpson are about to start their 4th year at the University of Leicester. Having shown a strong interest in applying geoscience to development through the conversations we’ve had with them over the past two years – we were really pleased to hear they has successfully arranged some work experience in Vanuatu. We’re also delighted that Ben and Eleri agreed to w ...[Read More]
#EGU2014: Bright Sparks in Dirty Thunderclouds
Lightning bolts formed in dirty thunderclouds could help geologists to detect explosive volcanic eruptions. Volcanic lightning is very poorly understood, but Corrado Cimarelli, from the University of München, has been able to reproduce the phenomena in his laboratory. Volcanic lightning is broadly similar to lightning in thunderclouds, but the addition of ash makes the process more complex. Volcan ...[Read More]
Friday Photo (124) – Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
Pacaya Lava Flow Tourists and guides ignore the official closing of the National Park around Pacaya Volcano to visit the lava flow that originated that afternoon. Credit: Joel Gill, 2014
Friday Photo (120) – Pacaya Lava Flows
Basaltic Lava Flows From the Eruption of Pacaya, Guatemala, in 2010 (Credit: Joel Gill, 2014) (This image, and others taken in Guatemala, is available for free use (subject to terms and conditions) from the EGU Image Repository)
Friday Photo (119) – Pacaya Lava Store, Guatemala
Lava Store, Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala An entrepreneurial Guatemalan sets up a lava store next to Pacaya (my understanding is that they sold products made from the lava, not just pieces of it – which are in abundance in the area!). This store was destroyed by the 2nd March 2014 lava flow. (Credit: Joel Gill, February 2014)
Field Research in Guatemala (4) – Reflections from Fuego
Joel Gill (GfGD Founding Director) continues his live reporting from Guatemala, discussing his interdisciplinary field research relating to natural hazard interactions and disaster risk reduction. This fieldwork forms part of a NERC/ESRC funded PhD, supervised by staff in the Department of Geography at King’s College London. Over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to see some remar ...[Read More]
Friday Photo (118) – 2nd March 2014 Lava Flows (Pacaya, Guatemala)
Basaltic ‘Aa’ Lava Flows From the 2nd March 2014 Eruption of Pacaya, Guatemala (Credit: Joel Gill, 2nd March 2014)
Friday Photo (117) – Volcan Agua, Guatemala
Volcan Agua, Guatemala Taken from the side of the Acatenango, another volcano, this image shows the stratovolcano Agua towering over the landscape. Agua was the location of a catastrophic debris flow/lahar in the mid 16th Century, destroying the then capital city of Guatemala. (Credit: Joel Gill, 2014) (This image, and others taken in Guatemala, is available for free use (subject to terms and cond ...[Read More]