Long-term fluctuations in volcanic activity: implications for future environmental impact |
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| Authors: | Hazel Rymer Corinne A Locke rea Borgia Maria Martinez Jorge Brenes Rodolfo Van der Laat Glyn Williams-Jones |
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| Institution: | Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK;;School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand;;SAS –Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;;Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica, Apartado Postal 2346-3000 Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica;;Department of Geology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive Barnaby, B.C., V5A 156 Canada |
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| Abstract: | Acidic crater lakes at persistently active volcanoes act as both an index and a moderator of volcanic processes. A catastrophic drop in lake level can therefore lead to serious local environmental damage. In the early 1990s, the crater lake at Poás volcano, Costa Rica diminished, and acid aerosols erupted with devastating consequences for local health, environment and economy. The first indications of this event can be retrospectively identified to have started from 1985, on the basis of our unique 20-year data time series, which provides evidence for the shallow intrusion of magma. New data presented in this article show similar trends and we conclude that Poás has now entered another active period with renewed intrusion. Severe environmental damage in this region is expected within the next few years if the current trend continues. |
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