The Volcano Masaya

Abstract

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This project will serve as part of a larger effort to create a hazard map and an evacuation plan for the visitors and surrounding communities of the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua. This volcano is located 20 km south of the capital Managua. It is Nicaragua's first and largest national park, and one of 78 protected areas of Nicaragua. Within a nested set of calderas and craters lies a sub-vent, which is the Masaya Volcano sensu stricto. It is a shield type composing of basaltic lavas and tephras and includes a summit crater. This volcano formed 2,500 years ago by an 8-km³ basaltic ignimbrite eruption. Masaya is the most active volcano in the region, erupting at least 19 times in the last 500 years. On April 23, 2001 the crater exploded and formed a new vent in the bottom of the crater. The explosion sent rocks with diameters up to 60 cm which travelled up to 500 m from the crater. Vehicles in the visitor’s area were damaged and one person was injured. On October 4, 2003 an eruption cloud was reported at Masaya. The plume rose to a height of ~4.6 km. In 2008, the mountain erupted spewing ash and steam. With increased visitation to the park and a growing nearby population, these recent eruptions are posing greater risks. By researching previous eruption events we can create a map showing the distance from the vents which hazards can reach. This will allow us to create evacuation plans in which visitors and community members can safely retreat. For the hazards and evacuation maps we will be using GIS Software to create preliminary maps. Field work will consist of verifying the GIS map and adding detail where needed. The quality and state of roads is impossible to verify via GIS. Evacuation routes will be planned accordingly on site, based on the most traveled and safest roads. From there we will create a final version of both maps.

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Goals

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1. Learn how to conduct research before visiting the field area 2. Determine common hazard zones to better inform and prepare the public 3. Learn field techniques 4. Learn proper project development/research methods and implementation. 5. Gain hands on experience using GIS Software

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Objectives

 

1. Learn how to conduct research before visiting the field area 2. Determine common hazard zones to better inform and prepare the public 3. Learn field techniques 4. Learn proper project development/research methods and implementation. 5. Gain hands on experience using GIS Software

 

Deliverables

 

Production of a Hazards map and Evacuation routes

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Mentor Contact Info

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Dr. Jason Kaiser, Jasonkaiser@suu.edu