Abstract

CABRERA-GUTIERREZ, R.  and  ESPINDOLA, J. M.. The 1998-1999 eruption of Volcán de Colima, Mexico: an application of Maeda's viscoelastic model. Geofís. Intl [online]. 2010, vol.49, n.2, pp.83-96. ISSN 2954-436X.

A modifed version of Maeda's viscoelastic model of mass ejection is applied to the 1998-1999 eruptive period of Volcán de Colima, Mexico. The model fts reasonably well the observed volume and volume rate of the eruption, assuming a magma chamber with a volume 30 km³ and radius of 1.93 km centered at about 1.7 km below sea level (~ 5.6 km below the summit crater). These fgures are roughly in agreement with gravimetric data. The process of mass emission at Colima Volcano during the studied period, consisted of slow emission of lava for 2 months. This behavior is attributed to the viscoelastic rheology of the medium around the volcanic conduit and the input to the magma chamber.

Keywords : Volcán de Colima; viscoelastic model; Maeda's model; eruption rate; mexican volcanoes.