INENCO   05446
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN ENERGIA NO CONVENCIONAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Fallout Hazards associated with a possible renewal of explosive activity at cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex, Austral Puna, Argentina
Autor/es:
BAEZ, WALTER; A. FOLCH; A. COSTA; J. VIRAMONTE
Lugar:
Puerto de la Cruz
Reunión:
Congreso; Cities on Volcanoes 06; 2010
Institución organizadora:
ITER
Resumen:
"Fallout hazards associated with a possible renewal of
explosive activity at Cerro Blanco volcanic complex, Austral
Puna, Argentina"Fallout hazards associated with a possible renewal of
explosive activity at Cerro Blanco volcanic complex, Austral
Puna, Argentina""
W. Baez,1 A. Folch,2 A. Costa,3& J.G. Viramonte11 A. Folch,2 A. Costa,3& J.G. Viramonte1
Cerro Blanco volcanic complex is the youngest high-silica caldera complex of the
Southern Central Andes. Two different periods of activity are identified. The first
period (~72 ka BP) is characterized by voluminous ignimbrite-forming eruptions that
generated the "Piedra Pomez" field (> 20 km3). At least one of these eruptions produced
a tephra fallout .The second period (~20-15 ka BP) produced two smaller ignimbrite
fields. During the last phase of the second period a dome was extruded at the caldera
margins, and there were numerous phreatic explosions along a local fault system. At
present there is some thermal activity and pipe and diffuse degassing at the center of the
caldera. INSAR and high precision GPS measurements reveal that the system is
currently subsiding at a rate of ~3 cm per year. Preliminary broadband seismic analysis
indicates activity at ~7 km depth. Although the area around the volcanic complex is
inhabited, a renewal of activity of the volcanic complex would have a tremendous
impact on the region, especially in the more distal areas (>100 km) where several
settlements exist. For these reasons, we investigated the effects of a potential tephra
fallout eruption. On the basis of the volcanological records, we define two eruptive
scenarios - violent strombolian and sub-plinian eruptions, respectively. For each
scenario we assess the associated fallout hazard. Ash fallout is modeled using a semianalytical
model and statistical wind field record. Simulations allow us to determine
which areas could be affected, and the potential impact on main infrastructures, regional
airports and national and international air traffic lines.
1 Universidad Nacional de Salta and CONICET ( INENCO and GEONORTE) Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400, Salta,
Argentina
2 Barcelona Super Computing Center (BSC) Torre Jirona- Jordi Girona 31, 08034 Barcelona - SpainBarcelona Super Computing Center (BSC) Torre Jirona- Jordi Girona 31, 08034 Barcelona - SpainUniversidad Nacional de Salta and CONICET ( INENCO and GEONORTE) Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400, Salta,
Argentina
2 Barcelona Super Computing Center (BSC) Torre Jirona- Jordi Girona 31, 08034 Barcelona - SpainBarcelona Super Computing Center (BSC) Torre Jirona- Jordi Girona 31, 08034 Barcelona - Spain
3Observatorio Vesubiano (INGV), Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Napoli, ItalyObservatorio Vesubiano (INGV), Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Napoli, Italy