Los Chocoyos eruption
Supervolcano eruption in Central America
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The Los Chocoyos eruption was a supervolcanic eruption that occurred sometime between 98,000[2] and 75,000[3] years ago, with the younger estimate placing the age close to the Youngest Toba eruption.[4] The eruption consisted of approximately 1,220 cubic kilometres (290 mi3) of rhyolitic ash, with a dense-rock equivalent (DRE) of about 730 cubic kilometres (180 mi3).[2] The eruption is the largest known eruption in Central America[5] and the third, and most recent, caldera forming eruption at Atitlan, with two others known at around 11 mya and 8 mya.[6]
| Los Chocoyos eruption | |
|---|---|
Lake Atitlan as seen from orbit. | |
| Volcano | Volcán Atitlán |
| Date | 98 – 75 kya |
| Type | Ignimbrite-forming |
| Location | Guatemala |
| VEI | 8[1] |
| Impact | Climate disruption (disputed) |
The eruption resulted in voluminous pyroclastic density currents, leaving deposits 6–10 metres (20–33 ft) thick in Chiapas, over 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the source.[4] Ash deposits were found over an area of 6,000,000 km2 (2,300,000 mi2).[7] It has been previously postulated that the eruption caused a millenial-scale volcanic winter, although new evidence suggests that is not the case.[5]
