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Arenal   »  Eruptive History

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Arenal

Start Date: 1968  Jul 29  Stop Date: 2010 Dec (?)

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Lava Volume:  6.4  ±  1.0  x  108 m3

Tephra Volume:  3.5  ±  0.6  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: W flank & summit (AR-22/ET-1 tephra)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Flank (excentric) vent
    Radial fissure eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)
    Phreatic explosion(s)
    Lava flow(s)
    Lava dome extrusion
    Fatalities
    Damage (land, property, etc.)
    Mudflow(s) (lahars)
    Evacuation

Start Date: 1922  Oct 5 (?) Stop Date: 1922 Oct 23 (?)

Dating Technique: Historical Records

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Mudflow(s) (lahars)

Start Date: 1915  Feb 5 

Eruption is UNCERTAIN

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2?

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Explosive eruption  (?)

Start Date: 1750 ± 50 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0?

Area of Activity: Summit and NW flank (A2 lava flows)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Radial fissure eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1440 (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2?

Lava Volume:  1.7  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-21/UN-10)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1400 (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  4.4  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-20/ET-2)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 1030 (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  9  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-19/ET-3)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 1020 (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2.7  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-18/ET-4)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 750 AD ± 50 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Anthropology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.7  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-17/ET-5)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 700 AD (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.9  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-16/ET-6)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 650 AD ± 100 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  3.8  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-15/ET-7; A3 lava flows)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 550 AD (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-14/ET-8M)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 400 AD (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Anthropology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-13/ET-8B)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Damage (land, property, etc.)
    Evacuation

Start Date: 170 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  3.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-12/ET-9N)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 270 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-11/ET-9A)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 380 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-10/ET-9B)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Flank (excentric) vent  (?)
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 830 BC ± 500 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0?

Area of Activity: (A4 lava flows)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1250 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.3  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-9/ET-9)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 1450 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-8/ET-10)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1650 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-7/ET-11)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 1770 BC ± 100 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Area of Activity: Cerro Chato

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 2250 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-6/ET-12)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 2800 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-5/ET-13)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 3190 BC ± 100 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Area of Activity: Cerro Chato

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 3350 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-4/ET-14)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 3900 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-3/ET-15)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 4450 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-2/ET-16)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 5060 BC ± 150 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4?

Area of Activity: (tephra layer AR-1/SFB)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Global Volcanism Program — Department of Mineral Sciences — National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

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