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Hazard assessment at San Martín volcano based on geological record, numerical modeling, and spatial analysis

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Abstract

The San Martín shield volcano, located in the Los Tuxtlas Volcanic Field, has experienced effusive shield-building activity, as well as explosive eruptions, as evidenced by direct observations during the last eruption in 1793. The threat to the surrounding villages consists principally of lahars, especially because of the tropical climate in the region. Ash fallout and lava flows represent additional hazards. In addition, the surrounding Quaternary monogenetic field includes more than 300 scoria cones and about 40 explosion craters (mainly maars) that also represent a hazard source. In the present study we constructed hazard maps using field data, orthophotos, spatial analysis, and specialized software (LAHARZ and HAZMAP) to deliminate lahar inundation zones, areas that could potentially be affected by ash fallout (including the evaluation of houses prone to roof collapse due to ash load), and the most susceptible areas for hosting future monogenetic vent formation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was developed as part of the project “Estudio Geológico del San Martín Tuxtla, Veracruz. Equipamiento, instrumentación y monitoreo con fines de prevención de desastres,” funded by GEV (Veracruz government) and FOPREDEN (Fondo de Prevención de Desastres). We thank the local Civil Protection for providing logistical support. We are very grateful to the reviewers, who helped to substantially improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Veracruzana, Francisco J. Moreno #207, Col. Emiliano Zapata, C.P. 91090, Xalapa, Mexico

    Katrin Sieron

  2. Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, C.P. 76230, Querétaro, Mexico

    Lucia Capra

  3. Departamento de Geología Regional, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, México, DF, Mexico

    Sergio Rodríguez-Elizararrás

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  1. Katrin Sieron
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  2. Lucia Capra
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  3. Sergio Rodríguez-Elizararrás
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Correspondence to Katrin Sieron.

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Sieron, K., Capra, L. & Rodríguez-Elizararrás, S. Hazard assessment at San Martín volcano based on geological record, numerical modeling, and spatial analysis. Nat Hazards 70, 275–297 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0807-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0807-7

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