Sabancaya

Coordinates: 15°47′13″S 71°51′25″W / 15.787°S 71.857°W / -15.787; -71.857
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Sabancaya
Aerial view of Sabancaya, the summit in the left background is Ampato
Highest point
Elevation5,976 m (19,606 ft) Edit this on Wikidata[1]
Prominence~500 m (1,640 ft)
Coordinates15°47′13″S 71°51′25″W / 15.787°S 71.857°W / -15.787; -71.857[1][2]
Geography
Sabancaya is located in Peru
Sabancaya
Sabancaya
Peru
LocationSouthern
Central Volcanic Zone
Last eruptionOctober 30 - November 5 2023

Sabancaya is an active 5,976-metre-high (19,606 ft)

Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, one of the three distinct volcanic belts of the Andes. The Central Volcanic Zone includes a number of volcanoes, some of which like Huaynaputina have had large eruptions and others such as Sabancaya and Ubinas have been active in historical time. Sabancaya forms a volcanic complex together with Hualca Hualca to the north and Ampato to the south and has erupted andesite and dacite. It is covered by a small ice cap which leads to a risk of lahars
during eruptions.

Sabancaya has generated numerous long

lava flows especially during the early Holocene, while activity in the later Holocene has been more explosive
. Historical reports indicate eruptions during the 18th century. The volcano returned to activity in 1986, culminating in a large eruption in 1990. Since then it has been continuously active with the emission of ash and gas.

Name

The name "Sabancaya" is Quechua and means tongue of fire[1] or spitting volcano, likely a reference to the eruptive activity.[3] Another version is Sahuancqueya.[4] The name is attested from 1595, implying that volcanic activity was observed since that date.[1]

Geography and geomorphology

Sabancaya lies about 70 km (43 mi) northwest of Arequipa.[5] The Rio Colca valley is located north of the Sabancaya-Hualca Hualca-Ampato volcano complex.[6]

Regional

The

Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, which extends through southern Peru.[9] Many volcanoes in the Central Volcanic Zone are poorly known, owing to their remote locations and adverse conditions such as high altitude.[7]

Sabancaya is part of a series of volcanoes that line the southwestern coast of Peru at a distance of roughly 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the shore.

Peru-Chile Trench.[13] Notable among them are Ampato and Coropuna for exceeding a height of 6,000 metres (20,000 ft), Huaynaputina and El Misti for their large eruptions and Ubinas and Sabancaya for their recent activity.[14]

These volcanoes are found in places where

normal faults,[15] occur around Sabancaya as well and include the Huambo-Cabanaconde, the Huanca, the Ichupampa, the Pampa Sepina, Sepina,[16] Solarpampa and Trigal faults;[17] the volcanoes Ampato and Sabancaya are aligned on the Sepina fault, which may thus be responsible for their existence.[18][19] These fault systems are still active and experience occasional earthquakes and deformation,[20] and their activity appears to be in part triggered by underground magma movements at Sabancaya.[21]

Local

Two tall snow-covered mountains
Sabancaya, with Ampato in the background

Sabancaya is 5,960 metres (19,554 ft)

Laguna Mucurca[25] and the Huambo volcanic field is on the western side of Sabancaya.[26]

A volcano surrounded by expanding lava flows, left and right two snow covered summits, as seen from space
Sabancaya from space. The lava flows are clearly visible.

Sabancaya consists of two separate centres that are formed by neighbouring domes, Sabancaya I North and Sabancaya II South.

parasitic vent 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) east of the summit has been the source of lava flows.[33]

A set of over 42

lava flows emanate from the volcano,[34][6] and cover a surface area of about 68 square kilometres (26 sq mi),[35] with individual lava flows extending up to 8 km (5.0 mi)[36] east and west from between its two neighbours. The lava flows at larger distances are older than the ones close to the vent.[2] These flows are blocky,[36] have lobe structures and reach thicknesses of 60–170 metres (200–560 ft);[35] the total thickness of this pile of lava flows is about 300–400 metres (980–1,310 ft).[34] Pyroclastic flow deposits are also found, but they might originate from Ampato rather than Sabancaya.[6]

Sabancaya, like its two neighbours, is covered by an

last ice age between 25,000 and 17,000 years before present,[38] when ice covered an area of 347 square kilometres (134 sq mi) on the three volcanoes;[32] these moraines have diverted some lava flows.[5] Younger moraines are found at higher altitudes, 4,400–4,650 metres (14,440–15,260 ft) above sea level, and may have formed between 13,000 and 10,000 years ago, shortly after the beginning of the Holocene.[38] Most of Sabancaya post-dates the last ice age and is thus relatively unaffected by glaciation.[39]

Earthquake activity has allowed the identification of a candidate magma reservoir beneath Pampa Sepina northeast of Sabancaya about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away from the summit. Between 1992 and 1996 this area inflated at a depth of 11–13 km (6.8–8.1 mi) below sea level, indicating that the magma supply system of Sabancaya may not be centered directly below the volcano.[40] Indeed, a phase of ground uplift at Hualca Hualca volcano and earthquake swarms in 1990 and later seismic activity under Hualca Hualca indicate that the magma chamber of Sabancaya is actually under the neighbouring volcano, a not uncommon phenomenon at volcanoes.[41][42]

Geology

The tectonic conditions in the region have not been constant over time; at various times the plates approached each other at higher speed, and this led to a compressional tectonic regimen. In the Western Cordillera however, tensional faulting facilitated the occurrence of voluminous volcanism. This faulting is still underway and produces earthquakes in the area.[12]

The basement of the volcano is formed by Precambrian rocks of the "Arequipa Massif", which are up to 1.9 billion years old. They are overlaid by various sediments and volcanic formations (Yura Group and Tiabaya unit) of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age. Especially during the Neogene, the supply of volcanic material was high and dominated the region, forming a volcanic "foot"; the present volcanoes are constructed on this volcanic "foot" formed by the Tacaza and Barroso sequences.[12][43] This "foot" is made out of an ignimbrite plateau that drops down south.[19] The "foot" beneath Ampato, Hualca Hualca and Sabancaya has been dated 2.2 ±0.15 million years ago, while a lava flow beneath the first and the last of these is about 0.8 ±0.04 million years old.[36]

Composition

Aerial photo of Solimana (foreground), Coropuna (upper right) and Sabancaya (upper left)

Fresh volcanites of Sabancaya consist of

calc-alkaline suite similar to other volcanoes in southern Peru;[45] the andesites occasionally appear as fine-grained enclaves.[46] The rocks are not very vesicular and contain a moderate amount of phenocrysts. Minerals encountered in both phenocrysts and groundmass are amphibole, biotite, hornblende, iron oxide, plagioclase, pyroxene and titanium oxide;[47] degraded olivine is also found.[14]

The magmas formed at temperatures of 920–990 °C (1,688–1,814 °F) with uncertainties of 30–50 °C (54–90 °F); the highest temperatures are associated with the 1992 eruption products.[45] Fluids from the downgoing slab chemically alter (metasomatism) the overlying mantle, which eventually melts to produce a primitive magma.[48] In various magma chambers,[49] magma genesis involved processes of magma mixing which formed at least part of the andesites[50] and fractional crystallization which gave rise to the dacites.[51] Partial crystallization and flow events within the magma chamber caused the formation of the andesite enclaves.[52] The total magma production rate of Sabancaya without accounting for repose periods is about 0.6–1.7 cubic kilometres per year (0.14–0.41 cu mi/a)[53] and is stored in a magma chamber under Hualca Hualca, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) horizontal distance from Sabancaya, at 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) depth.[54]

Sabancaya is a source of

stratocumulus clouds.[57] Much of the gas is derived from magma that does not ascend to the surface.[58]

Eruptive history

Initially,

before present on various lava flows of the basal lava flow field stage,[61] indicating that effusive activity started shortly after the beginning of the Holocene[34] and built the basal edifice.[62] Pyroclastic eruptions are less common and have a low volume. Layers dated 8,500 years before present,[36] 2500-2100 BC, 420–150 BC, 100 BC – 150 AD[63] and between 1200 and 1400 AD, could have originated either on Sabancaya or Ampato.[64] There is evidence that early and middle-Holocene Sabancaya mostly erupted lava, while the late-Holocene volcano was more explosive in its activity.[65] Thirteen tephra-producing eruptions took place between 4,150 ±40 and 730 ±35 years ago.[39] It is possible that the Inca performed human sacrifices in response to eruptions of Sabancaya to calm down the mountain spirits;[66] the Mummy Juanita on Ampato may have been such a sacrifice, or one against a drought.[67]

A large plume of smoke rising over a volcano which is slightly below the observer
The 1994 eruption of Sabancaya

Sabancaya is the most active

Inca artefacts including the Mummy Juanita,[67] and on Hualca Hualca, producing mudflows.[74]

After the large 1990 eruption, the style of activity at Sabancaya changed towards a frequent occurrence of explosive eruptions with however low output,[75] which threw ballistic blocks to distances of about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the summit crater;[10] this pattern of activity is referred to as "Vulcanian eruptions"[3] and was accompanied by a decrease of the magma supply.[76] Ash fall from these eruptions induced melting of the glaciers on Ampato, in 1995 exposing the Mummy Juanita on the latter volcano.[77] These explosive eruptions became less common over time (from paroxysms every 20–30 minutes to only 5–6 eruptions per day)[36] and the proportional amount of fresh volcanic material increased at first; since 1997 discontinuous eruptions generate steam columns no higher than 300–500 metres (980–1,640 ft)[36] and ejected material is almost entirely lithic.[47] Satellite imagery has evidenced the occurrence of temperature anomalies on Sabancaya on the scale of 13 K (23 °F), probably owing to fumarolic activity.[78]

In March and April 2013,

seismic swarms increased[19] after fifteen years of rest,[79] leading to local infrastructure being damaged;[72] an eruption occurred in August 2014[80] and blue and yellow gases were emitted between 2013 and 2015.[29] This pulse of activity was accompanied by an increased release of SO
2
, which was being emitted at a rate of 1,000 tonnes per day (0.012 t/s) in 2014.[72] Ash was emitted by the volcano multiple times through 2014 and 2015,[81] and there has been steady shallow seismic activity since 2013.[82]

A further increase of fumarolic activity was observed in 2016, when new fumaroles appeared and sulfur flux increased to 6,000 tonnes per day (0.069 t/s) sulfur dioxide. Ash eruptions have occurred since 6 November 2016, with an eruption column 3 km (1.9 mi) high five days later.[72] Since then, the volcano has been continuously active[83] with numerous explosions every day, which produce volcanic ash clouds that can rise to elevations of 3.5 km (2.2 mi).[84] A persistent gas plume lies above the volcano and repeated emissions of ash have happened, resulting in several alerts for the local population.[81] Lahars have been produced in some occasions, without reports of damage.[85] A lava dome began to grow in 2017 within the crater, with unsteady explosive activity and occasional seismic swarms,[86] and was progressively destroyed in 2020.[87] In 2020, a second lava dome formed in November[88] but it was destroyed between December and February of that year.[89] These lava domes were named after numbers in Quechua: Huk for the first and Iskay for the second.[90] The domes Kimsa formed in 2021 and was destroyed in the same year, while Tawa existed during the winter of 2021[91]-2022. In March and May of 2023, Pichqa formed.[92] Ash emissions and seismic activity[93] associated with the eruption begun in 2016 was still ongoing in 2023.[68]

Hazards

Viewing a deep valley from space
The Colca canyon; Sabancaya is the white dot just above the right bottom of the image

Sabancaya rises above the valleys of the Colca river and of some tributaries of the

power line that delivers electricity from the Mantaro Power Plant [es]; all of these could be threatened in an eruption.[95] In the case of a major Plinian eruption, at least 60,000 to 70,000 people would be threatened. Rock fall would affect the area close to the summit domes, as would pyroclastic flows; these would be a further hazard to the valleys draining the volcano.[94]

The presence of an ice cap is an additional source of danger,

Majes River and Sihuasi River drainages would be threatened by such mudflows in case of an eruption;[99] the former is the site of the Majes-Siguas irrigation project,[95] the most important in southern Peru.[28] Other dangers from eruptions at Sabancaya are tephra fallout, which can impact the health of people,[100] animals and plants more than 50 kilometres (31 mi) away;[101] and lava flows, which however are not much of a threat to humans owing to their slow speed.[102] Aside from the direct threat of eruptions, Sabancaya also contributes to SO
2
air pollution in the Colca valley, which can damage plants and cause respiratory distress in animals and humans.[103] Ash clouds from Sabancaya frequently impede air travel over the region; the volcano is one of the most frequent causes of volcanic ash-related air traffic advisories in the world.[104]

Monitoring

Sabancaya and Ubinas were the first Peruvian volcanoes to be studied scientifically.

surveillance cameras,[107] and telemetry units.[108] The SVO also uses data from satellites[88] and volcanic ash collectors.[109] These data are published both in real-time online and in volcano activity bulletins.[110]

Hazard maps and scenarios

INGEMMET has published three

lava flows, mudflows, pyroclastic flows and volcanic bombs is highest on the edifice itself and the valleys draining Ampato-Sabancaya to the east, south and west. A moderate hazard is found on Ampato-Sabancaya and downstream valleys, and a low hazard around the foot of Ampato-Sabancaya.[113] Only a few houses are located within "multiple threats" hazard zones as of 2017,[114] but several bridges, canals, roads and the towns of Taya, Lluta and Huanca are within the mudflow hazard zone,[115] and the volcanic ash hazard zone includes numerous villages.[116]

Together with Ubinas, Coropuna and Misti, Sabancaya is classified by as a "very high risk" volcano;[117] in the case of Sabancaya because of its threat to the Majes-Siguas irrigation project.[118] Scenarios of future eruptions range from vulcanian eruptions over effusive eruptions (no evidence of effusive eruptions during the past few centuries) and vulcanian-subplinian eruptions to the low-probability scenario of Plinian eruptions.[119] Scenarios of mudflow emission range from mudflows in the valleys draining Ampato and Sabancaya over to flows that extend 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the volcano into surrounding towns.[120]

Climate and vegetation

In southern Peru, the wet season is during December-March, with the rest of the year dry. Annual precipitation east of the volcano is about 480–926 millimetres (18.9–36.5 in);[121] on average, about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) ice and snow accumulate on Sabancaya during the wet season.[32]

The landscape around Sabancaya, Ampato and Hualca Hualca is largely unvegetated.

camelids, cattle and sheep.[114]

Access and human use

Several paved roads pass along the foot of Ampato and Hualca Hualca,[124] including the department-level road PE-34E and the AR-579.[125] The principal economic activities in the area are agriculture, animal husbandry, mining and tourism.[126] The Colca valley is one of the principal tourism destinations of Peru,[4] with about 190,000 visitors per year.[126] It and Sabancaya have been evaluated for their potential as geotourism targets,[79] the UNESCO Colca y Volcanes de Andagua geopark includes Sabancaya.[127] Volcanic activity is visible from the Chivay-Arequipa road at Patapampa,[128] other viewpoints are at Mucurca northwest and Coporaque northeast of the volcano.[129]

See also

References

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Sources