The earthquake sequence of May 1951 at Jucuapa, El Salvador

Three earthquakes that happened over two days in May 1951 caused extensive damage to villages in a small area of eastern El Salvador (Central America). Contemporary hypocentral solutions indicated focal depths, confirmed by re-calculations using available seismic data, of the order of 90 km, suggesting events associated with the subducted Cocos plate. Macroseismic observations strongly indicate that the earthquakes were of very shallow focus and this is supported by wave-form modeling and the appearance of seismograms recorded in Guatemala. A re-evaluation of the location and source characteristics for these events is presented, together with a fault plane solution and additional macroseismic evidence. The implications for seismic hazard and risk assessment in Central America, where shallow earthquakes of moderate magnitude, frequently occurring in clusters, pose the greatest threat to settlements which, like the area affected by these events, are concentrated along the axis of Quaternary volcanoes.     

The El Salvador earthquakes of January and February 2001: context, characteristics and implications for seismic risk

The small Central American republic of El Salvador has experienced, on average, one destructive earthquake per decade during the last hundred years. The latest events occurred on 13 January and 13 February 2001, with magnitudes M_w 7.7 and 6.6, respectively. The two events, which were of different tectonic origin, follow the patterns of the seismicity of the region although neither event has a known precedent in the earthquake catalogue in terms of size and location. The earthquakes caused damage to thousands of traditionally built houses and triggered hundreds of landslides, which were the main causes of fatalities. The earthquakes have clearly demonstrated trends of increasing seismic risk in El Salvador due to rapid population expansion in areas of high shaking and landslide hazard, exacerbated by deforestation and uncontrolled urbanisation. The institutional mechanisms required for the control of land use and building practice are very weak and present a major obstacle to risk mitigation.     

Ash layers in deep-sea sediments as tracers of arc volcanic activity: Japan and Central America as case studies

Abstract Arc volcanic activity on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean (Japan and Central America) has been investigated by examining the number of volcanic ash layers recorded in Neogene and Quaternary deep-sea sediments. The data suggest that ash layers counted in deep-sea sediments may provide a reliable record of arc volcanism. The study is based on a quantitative analysis of arc volcanic activity using cores collected on DSDP (Deep-Sea Drilling Project) and ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) legs. Five distinct parameters which might affect ash distribution in marine sediments were reviewed: nature of the eruption, wind influence, settling conditions, diagenesis, and plate motion. Of these five, past atmospheric circulation was the most significant. The main constraint on the analysis is that temporal scattering of ash is not directly related to wind pattern variations. Results of this analysis are correlated with dating of terrestrial volcanic sequences. Although marine tephra records for individual regions reveal minor differences in the episodes of volcanic activity, a general correlation exists between activity of arc volcanism in Japan and in Central America. Two important pulses of arc volcanism occurred during Middle Miocene times (18–13 Ma) and Plio-Quaternary times (5–0 Ma). These episodes of intense volcanism are separated by a well recorded quiescent period during Late Miocene times. These correlating episodes of the volcanic record indicate a direct link between arc volcanism and the global tectonic evolution of the Pacific ocean margins.     

Crater Lake Temperature Changes of the 2005 Eruption of Santa Ana Volcano,El Salvador,Central America

A sudden eruption at Santa Ana occurred on 1 October 2005, producing an ash-and-gas plume to a height in excess of 10 km above the volcano. Several days before, thermal infrared images of the crater provided precursory signals of the eruption. A significant increase in the extent and intensity of the fumarolic field inside the crater rim and of the surface temperature of the crater’s lake was observed. Changes in energy input was also estimated to explain the increase in lake temperature based on energy/mass balance calculations.     

Tidal triggering of seismic and volcanic phenomena during the 1879–1880 eruption of Islas Quemadas volcano in El Salvador, Central America

The Islas Quemadas dome in Lake Ilopango, El Salvador, was extruded during December 1879 to March 1880. The eruption took place in six distinct periods, five of which began near fortnightly minima in the amplitude of the semidiurnal solid earth tide. An earthquake swarm preceded dome extrusion. Felt earthquakes were carefully recorded during a two-day period preceding a destructive main shock that occurred on December 27, 1879. During this foreshock sequence the periods of highest earthquake activity occurred at times of maxima and minima in semidiurnal solid-earth tide. The four largest earthquakes, including the main shock, occurred at maxima in the semidiurnal tide.     

Anomalous Emissions of SO2 During the Recent Eruption of Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador, Central America

Santa Ana volcano in western El Salvador, Central America, had a phreatic eruption at 8:05 am (local time) on October 1, 2005, 101 years after its last eruption. However, during the last one hundred years this volcano has presented periods of quiet degassing with fumarolic activity and an acidic lake within its crater. This paper presents results of frequent measurements of SO₂ degassing using the MiniDOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) system and a comparison with the volcanic seismicity prior to the eruption, during, and after the eruption. Vehicle measurements of SO₂ flux were taken every hour during the first nine days of the eruption and daily after that. The period of time reported here is from August to December, 2005. Three periods of degassing are distinguished: pre-eruptive, eruptive, and post-eruptive periods. The intense activity at Santa Ana volcano started in July 2005. During the pre-eruptive period up to 4306 and 5154 ton/day of SO₂ flux were recorded on October 24 and September 9, 2005, respectively. These values were of the same order of magnitude as the recorded values just after the October 1^st eruption (2925 ton/day at 10:01 am). Hourly measurements of SO₂ flux taken during the first nine days after the main eruptive event indicate that explosions are preceded by an increase in SO₂ flux and that this parameter reaches a peak after the explosion took place. This behavior suggests that increasing accumulation of exsolved magmatic gases occurs within the magmatic chamber before the explosions, increasing the pressure until the point of explosion. A correlation between SO₂ fluxes and RSAM (Real Time Seismic Amplitude Measurements) is observed during the complete sampling period. Periodic fluctuations in the SO₂ and RSAM values during the entire study period are observed. One possible mechanism explaining these fluctuations it that convective circulation within the magmatic chamber can bring fresh magma periodically to shallow levels, allowing increasing degasification and then decreasing degasification as the batch of magma lowers its gas content, becomes denser, and sinks to give space to a new magma pulse. These results illustrate that the measurements of SO₂ flux can provide important warning signals for incoming explosive activity in active volcanoes.     

Intra-arc extension in Central America: Links between plate motions, tectonics, volcanism, and geochemistry

This study revisits the kinematics and tectonics of Central America subduction, synthesizing observations of marine bathymetry, high-resolution land topography, current plate motions, and the recent seismotectonic and magmatic history in this region. The inferred tectonic history implies that the Guatemala–El Salvador and Nicaraguan segments of this volcanic arc have been a region of significant arc tectonic extension; extension arising from the interplay between subduction roll-back of the Cocos Plate and the ~ 10–15mm/yr slower westward drift of the Caribbean plate relative to the North American Plate. The ages of belts of magmatic rocks paralleling both sides of the current Nicaraguan arc are consistent with long-term arc-normal extension in Nicaragua at the rate of ~ 5–10mm/yr, in agreement with rates predicted by plate kinematics. Significant arc-normal extension can ‘hide’ a very large intrusive arc-magma flux; we suggest that Nicaragua is, in fact, the most magmatically robust section of the Central American arc, and that the volume of intrusive volcanism here has been previously greatly underestimated. Yet, this flux is hidden by the persistent extension and sediment infill of the rifting basin in which the current arc sits. Observed geochemical differences between the Nicaraguan arc and its neighbors which suggest that Nicaragua has a higher rate of arc-magmatism are consistent with this interpretation. Smaller-amplitude, but similar systematic geochemical correlations between arc-chemistry and arc-extension in Guatemala show the same pattern as the even larger variations between the Nicaragua arc and its neighbors.     

中美洲鹦鹉湾气旋涡的亚中尺度结构特征

海洋中普遍存在的涡旋对全球海洋热、盐通量有重要贡献.一条于2000 年6 月在中美洲鹦鹉湾采集的地震剖面L115 捕获到了一个海水次表层透镜状反射结构.透镜状反射的宽度约 150 km,厚度约500 m,深度从 100 m延伸到约600 m,核心深约200 m.结合和地震采集时间近同步的再分析数据中的流速和海水温度数据...     

Anomalous Diffuse CO2 Emission prior to the January 2002 Short-term Unrest at San Miguel Volcano, El Salvador, Central America

On January 16, 2002, short-term unrest occurred at San Miguel volcano. A gas-and-steamash plume rose a few hundred meters above the summit crater. An anomalous microseismicity pattern, about 75 events between 7:30 and 10:30 hours, was also observed. Continuous monitoring of CO₂ efflux on the volcano started on November 24, 2001, in the attempt to provide a multidisciplinary approach for its volcanic surveillance. The background mean of the diffuse CO₂ emission is about 16 g m^-2 d^-1, but a 17- fold increase, up to 270 g m^-2 d^-1, was detected on January 7, nine days before the January 2002 short-term unrest at San Miguel volcano. These observed anomalous changes on diffuse CO₂ degassing could be related to either a sharp increase of CO₂ pressure within the volcanic-hydrothermal system or degassing from an uprising fresh gas-rich magma within the shallow plumbing system of the volcano since meteorological fluctuations cannot explain this observed increase of diffuse CO₂ emission.     

Geochemistry and origin of Archean volcanic rocks from the Upper Keewatin assemblage (ca 2.7 Ga), Lake of the Woods Greenstone Belt, Western Wabigoon Subprovince, Superior Province, Canada

Abstract   Volcanic rocks from the Upper Keewatin assemblage ( ca 2720 Ma) were geochemically classified into five groups; komatiites, tholeiitic rocks having near-flat primitive mantle-normalized abundance patterns, Nb-enriched basalts and andesites (NEBA) plus normal calc-alkaline (NCA) rocks, adakites and shoshonites. The adakites having [La/Yb]_N >30 and <30 were probably derived from felsic magmas formed by partial melting of a subducted slab at relatively greater and smaller depths, respectively. Ascending adakite magmas, by interaction with the overlying mantle wedge, decreased in Al₂O₃ / Y ratio and selectively lost high-field strength elements, thereby forming mantle sources for both NEBA + NCA and shoshonite magmas. Under the influence of a mantle plume, the source of komatiites, the NEBA + NCA magmas were generated from that part of the mantle wedge metasomatized by adakite magmas having [La / Yb]_N <30, and tholeiitic magmas from unmetasomatized part of the same mantle wedge. Magmas of both adakites having [La / Yb]_N >30 and shoshonites were generated in a normal Archean Arc system setting.     

The Negra Muerta Volcanic Complex, southern Central Andes: geochemical characteristics and magmatic evolution of an episodically active volcanic centre

This petrologic analysis of the Negra Muerta Volcanic Complex (NMVC) contributes to understanding the magmatic evolution of eruptive centres associated with prominent NW-striking fault zones in the southern Central Andes. Specifically, the geochemical characteristics and magmatic evolution of the two eruptive episodes of this Complex are analysed. The first one occurred as an explosive eruption at 9 Ma and is represented by a strongly welded, fiamme-rich, andesitic to dacitic ignimbrite deposit. The second commenced with an eruption of a rhyolitic ignimbrite at 7.6 Ma followed by effusive discharge of hybrid lavas at 7.3 Ma and by emplacement of andesitic to rhyodacitic dykes and domes. Both explosive and effusive eruptions of the second episode occurred within a short time span, but geochemical interpretations permit consideration of the existence of different magmas interacting in the same magma chamber. Our model involves an andesitic recharge into a partially cooled rhyolitic magma chamber, pressurising the magmatic system and triggering explosive eruption of rhyolitic magma. Chemical or mechanical evidence for interaction between the rhyolitic and andesitic magma in the initial stages are not obvious because of their difference in composition, which could have been strong enough to inhibit the interaction between the two magmas. After the initial explosive stages of the eruption at 7.6 Ma, the magma chamber become more depressurised and the most mafic magma settled in compositional layers by fractional crystallisation. Restricted hybridisation occurred and was effective between adjacent and thermally equivalent layers close to the top of the magma chamber. At 7.3 Ma, increments of caldera formation were accompanied by effusive discharge of hybrid lavas through radially disposed dykes whereby andesitic magma gained in importance toward the end of this effusive episode in the central portion of the caldera. Assimilation during turbulent ascent (ATA) is invoked to explain a conspicuous reversed isotopic signature (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd) in the entire volcanic series. Therefore, the 7.6 to 7.3 Ma volcanic rocks of the NMVC resulted from synchronous and mutually interacting petrological processes such as recharge, fractional crystallization, hybridisation, and Assimilation during Turbulent Ascent (ATA).Geochemical characteristics of both volcanic episodes show diverse type and/or depth in the sources and variable influence of upper crustal processes, and indicate a recurrence in the magma-forming conditions. Similarly, other minor volcanic centres in the transversal volcanic belts of the Central Andes repeated their geochemical signatures throughout the Miocene.     

Debris flow deposits within the Palaeogene lava fields of NW Scotland: evidence for mass wasting of the volcanic landscape during emplacement of the Ardnamurchan Central Complex

Coarse fragmental rocks, previously interpreted as primary pyroclastic accumulations infilling flared vents (Richey JE 1938) “The rhythmic eruptions of Ben Hiant, Ardnamurchan, a tertiary volcano. Bull Volcanol” 2(3):1–21), are re-interpreted as predominantly debris flow deposits, with minor hyperconcentrated and stream-flow deposits, temporally and spatially associated with the Palaeogene Ardnamurchan Central Complex (ACC), NW Scotland. These volcaniclastic rocks are conglomerates and breccias, interbedded with siltstones and sandstones, which formed by surface processes on a dissected landscape, developed in response to shallow emplacement of the ACC. Clast-matrix and photo-statistical analyses allow the palaeo-topography and drainage system to be reconstructed and the development of a palaeo-geographic model for the volcanic landscape. Slabs of basalt, dolerite and sandstone were transported as megablocks during catastrophic, gravity-driven events. Lower energy intervals during volcanic hiatuses are marked by lacustrine-fluvial volcaniclastic siltstones and sandstones preserving palynomorph assemblages. We suggest that shallow intrusion is a plausible initiation mechanism for mass wasting in other large igneous provinces. Historically, deposits of the type described here may have been misidentified as vent facies pyroclastic materials.     

Petrogenesis of the late Cretaceous K‐rich volcanic rocks from the Central Pontide orogenic belt,North Turkey

Subduction‐related volcanic rocks are widespread in the Central Pontides of Turkey, and represented by the Hamsaros volcanic succession in the Sinop area to the north. The volcanic rocks display high‐K calc‐alkaline, shoshonitic and ultra‐K affinities. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data indicate that the rocks occurred during the Late Cretaceous (ca 82 Ma), and the volcanic suites were coeval. Primitive mantle‐normalized trace element patterns of all the lavas are characterized by strong enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) (Rb, Ba, K, and Sr), Th, U, Pb, and light rare earth elements (LREE; La, Ce) and prominent negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies, all typical of subduction‐related lavas. There is a systematic increase in the enrichment of incompatible trace elements from the high‐K calc‐alkaline lavas through the shoshonitic to the ultra‐K lavas. In addition, the shoshonitic and ultra‐K lavas have significantly higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70666–0.70834) and lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51227–0.51236) initial ratios than coexisting high‐K calc‐alkaline lavas (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.70576–0.70613, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0.51245–0.51253). Geochemical and isotopic data show that the shoshonitic and ultra‐K rocks cannot be derived from the high‐K calc‐alkaline suite by any shallow level differentiation process, and point to a derivation from distinct mantle sources. The shoshonitic and ultra‐K rocks were derived from metasomatic veins related to melting of recycled subducted sediments, but the high‐K calc‐alkaline rocks from a lithospheric source metasomatized by fluids from subduction zone.     

基于sP前驱震相叠加研究南美中部地区岩石圈-软流圈边界形态

岩石圈-软流圈边界（lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary）是上地幔内具有负速度梯度的地震波速度界面.对俯冲带区域LAB开展地震学探测有助于进一步认识岩石圈和软流圈的相互作用以及与板块俯冲有关的地球动力学过程.本文收集了2006-2012年发生于南美中部地区4个深源地震的垂向宽频带波形资料,利用线性倾斜叠加处理得到了相对走时-慢度域的灰度图,并成功提取了sP在LAB底反射的前驱震相s_LABP.基于改进的一维速度模型IASP91-SA计算得出了6个s_LABP震相反射点的水平分布,并划分为西部（Ⅰ）和东部（Ⅱ）分区：分区Ⅰ内LAB深度位于60~63 km,平均深度为61 km,起伏为3 km;分区Ⅱ内LAB深度位于78~82 km,平均深度为80 km,起伏为4 km.研究结果显示南美中部地区LAB深度自西向东呈变大的趋势,这可能反映了大陆岩石圈受改造程度的差异.我们推测在靠近海沟的地区,软流圈内部分熔融程度较高且熔体较为富集,对大陆岩石圈的侵蚀作用较强;在远离海沟的地区,软流圈内部分熔融程度降低且熔体分布减少,对大陆岩石圈的侵蚀作用减弱.

     

The eruptive history of the Mascota volcanic field,western Mexico: Age and volume constraints on the origin of andesite among a diverse suite of lamprophyric and calc-alkaline lavas

The Mascota volcanic field is located in the Jalisco Block of western Mexico, where the Rivera Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. It spans an area of ∼ 2000 km² and contains ∼ 87 small cones and lava flows of minette, absarokite, basic hornblende lamprophyre, basaltic andesite, and andesite. There are no contemporary dacite or rhyolite lavas. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are presented for 35 samples, which are combined with nine dates from the literature to document the eruptive history of this volcanic field. The oldest lavas (2.4 to 0.5 Ma) are found in the southern part of the field area, whereas the youngest lavas (predominantly < 0.5 Ma) are found in the northern portion. On the basis of these ages, field mapping, and the use of ortho aerial photographs and digital elevation models, it is estimated that a combined volume of 6.8 ± 3.1 km³ erupted in the last 2.4 Myr, which leads to an average eruption rate of ∼ 0.003 km³/kyr, and an average volume per eruptive unit of < 0.1 km³. The dominant lava type is andesite (2.1 ± 0.9 km³), followed by absarokite (1.6 ± 0.8 km³), basaltic andesite (1.2 ± 0.5 km³), basic hornblende lamprophyre (1.0 ± 0.4 km³), and minette (0.9 ± 0.5 km³). Thus, the medium-K andesite and basaltic andesite comprise approximately half (49%) of the erupted magma, with twice as much andesite as basaltic andesite, and they occur in close spatial and temporal association with the highly potassic, lamprophyric lavas. There is no time progression to the type of magma erupted. A wide variety of evidence indicate that the high-MgO (8–9 wt.% ) basaltic andesites (52–53% wt.% SiO₂) were formed by H₂O flux melting of the asthenopheric arc mantle wedge, whereas the mafic minettes and absarokites were formed by partial melting (induced by thermal erosion) of depleted lithospheric mantle containing phlogopite-bearing veins. There is only limited differentiation of the potassic magmas, with none more evolved than 55.4 wt.% SiO₂ and 4.4 wt.% MgO. This may be attributable to rapid crystallization of the mantle-derived melts in the deep crust, owing to their low volumes. Thus, the andesites (58–63 wt.% SiO₂) are notable for being both the most voluminous and the most evolved of all lava types in the Mascota volcanic field, which is not consistent with their extraction from extensively crystallized (60–70%), low-volume intrusions. Instead, the evidence supports the origin of the andesites by partial melting of amphibolitized, mafic lower crust, driven by the emplacement of the minettes, absarokites, and the high-Mg basaltic andesites.     

From incipient island arc to doubly‐vergent orogen: A review of geodynamic models and sedimentary basin‐fills of southern Central America

Southern Central America is a Late Mesozoic/Cenozoic island arc that evolved in response to the subduction of the Farallón Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate in the Late Cretaceous and, from the Oligocene, the Cocos and Nazca Plates. Southern Central America is one of the best studied convergent margins in the world. The aim of this paper is to review the sedimentary and structural evolution of arc‐related sedimentary basins in southern Central America, and to show how the arc developed from a pre‐extensional intra‐oceanic island arc into a doubly‐vergent, subduction orogen. The Cenozoic sedimentary history of southern Central America is placed into the plate tectonic context of existing Caribbean Plate models. From regional basin analysis, the evolution of the southern Central American island arc is subdivided into three phases: (i) non‐extensional stage during the Campanian; (ii) extensional phase during the Maastrichtian‐Oligocene with rapid basin subsidence and deposition of arc‐related, clastic sediments; and (iii) doubly‐vergent, compressional arc phase along the 280 km long southern Costa Rican arc segment related to either oblique subduction of the Nazca plate, west‐to‐east passage of the Nazca–Cocos–Caribbean triple junction, or the subduction of rough oceanic crust of the Cocos Plate. The Pleistocene subduction of the Cocos Ridge contributed to the contraction but was not the primary driver. The architecture of the arc‐related sedimentary basin‐fills has been controlled by four factors: (i) subsidence caused by tectonic mechanisms, linked to the angle and morphology of the incoming plate, as shown by the fact that subduction of aseismic ridges and slab segments with rough crust were important drivers for subduction erosion, controlling the shape of forearc and trench‐slope basins, the lifespan of sedimentary basins, and the subsidence and uplift patterns; (ii) subsidence caused by slab rollback and resulting trench retreat; (iii) eustatic sea‐level changes; and (iv) sediment dispersal systems.     

Caldera-scale inflation of the Lazufre volcanic area, South America: Evidence from InSAR

Collapsed calderas are the structural surface expression of the largest volcanic eruptions on Earth and may reach diameters of tens of kilometres while erupting volumes larger than 1000 km³. Remnants of collapse calderas can be found along the South American volcanic arc and are thought to be inactive. However, this study shows that systems of such dimension may become active in a relatively short period of time without attracting much attention. Using satellite-based InSAR data, a 45 km wide elongated area of ground deformation was observed in the Lazufre volcanic region (Chile), where no deformation was detected 10 years ago. The deformation signal shows an uplift of up to ~ 3 cm yr^− 1 during 2003–2006, affecting an area of about 1100 km², comparable in size to super-volcanoes such as Yellowstone or Long Valley. This deformation signal can be explained by an inflating magma body at about 10 km depth, expanding and propagating laterally at a velocity of up to 4 km per year. Although it is not clear whether this intrusion will lead to an eruption, its dimensions and the rapid deformation rate insinuate that a potentially large volcanic system is forming.     

Twenty-five million years of silicic volcanism in the southern central volcanic zone of the Andes: Geochemistry and magma genesis of ignimbrites from 25 to 27 °S, 67 to 72 °W

Silicic volcanism in the Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ) produced one of the world's largest Neogene ignimbrite provinces. The largest and best-known CVZ ignimbrites are located on the Altiplano-Puna plateau north of 24 °S. Their compositions and huge erupted volumes suggest an origin by large-scale crustal melting, and present-day geophysical anomalies in this region suggest still active zones of partial melting in the middle crust. Farther south in the CVZ, the Cerro Galán complex erupted ignimbrites in the late Miocene and Pliocene that are quite similar in volume and composition to those from north of 24 °S and they have a similar origin. However, there are a great many other, smaller ignimbrites in the southern CVZ whose compositions and geodynamic significance are poorly known. These are the subject of this paper.     

Petrogenesis and its significance to continental dynamics of the Neogene high-potassium calc-alkaline volcanic rock association from north Qiangtang,Tibetan Plateau

Detailed studies indicate that the main rock type of the Neogene high-potassium calc-alkaline volcanic rock association from north Qiangtang is andesite, dacite and rhyolite. They belong to typical crust-generation magmatic system and originate from the special thickened crust of the Tibetan Plateau by dehydration melting. This group of rocks exhibits LREE enrichment but no remarkable Eu anomaly that shows their source region should be a thickened deep crust consisting of eclogitic mass group, implying that the crust had been thickened and an eclogitic deep crust had been formed during the Neogene period in Qiangtang area. This understanding is important and significant to making further discussion on the uplift mechanism and continental dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Evolution of the seismic activity from the 1982 eruption of El Chichon Volcano, Chiapas, Mexico

 We analyzed more than 1700 earthquakes related to the 1982 eruption of El Chichon volcano in southern Mexico. The data were recorded at specific periods throughout the whole eruptive interval of March to April 1982, by three different networks. The seismic activity began several months before the first eruption on 28 March. During this period the seismicity consisted of hybrid and long-period shallow earthquakes most likely related to processes of faulting, fracturing, and fluid movement underneath the volcano. The foci of events occurring before the eruption circumscribe an aseismic zone from approximately 7 to 13 km below the volcano. After the eruption, the seismic activity consisted of tectonic-type earthquakes that peaked at 1200 events/h. This later activity occurred over a wide range of depths, mostly between 5 and 20 km, that includes the former aseismic zone and is roughly limited by the major tectonic faults in the area. Received: 19 May 1998 / Accepted: 13 June 1999