image: This new special paper from the Geological Society of America looks at Peru's Misti volcano and its last Plinian eruption -- which emplaced voluminous tephra-fall, pyroclastic-flow, and lahar deposits ca. 2 ka. Arequipa, located at the foot of the volcano, has a population of over 800,000 people and growing. Misti will erupt explosively again, and it is important to understand the past Plinian eruption. view more
Credit: The Geological Society of America
Boulder, CO, USA – Misti volcano's last Plinian eruption happened ca. 2 ka, emplacing voluminous tephra-fall, pyroclastic-flow, and lahar deposits. Arequipa, located at the foot of the volcano, has a population of over 800,000 people and growing. Misti will erupt explosively again, and it is important to understand the past Plinian eruption.
This GSA Special Paper first provides a detailed description and analysis of the lahar deposits from the 2 ka eruption and the flows that emplaced them.
Because Misti is located in an arid region, the authors have also included a detailed discussion of the paleoclimate conditions that provided the water for voluminous mudflows. The authors further delineate the complete eruption sequence for the pyroclastic-flow and tephra-fall deposits, providing a narrative of the eruption progression and dynamics.
Finally, the book discusses the 2 ka eruption in the context of hazards from a future Plinian eruption and provides hazards maps for the different phenomena.
Individual copies of the volume may be purchased through the Geological Society of America online bookstore, http://www.geosociety.org/bookstore/default.asp?oID=0&catID=9&pID=SPE484, or by contacting GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.
Book editors of earth science journals/publications may request a review copy by contacting April Leo, aleo@geosociety.org.
The 2 ka Eruption of Misti Volcano, Southern Peru—The Most Recent Plinian Eruption of Arequipa's Iconic Volcano
Christopher J. Harpel, Shanaka de Silva, and Guido Salas (editors)
Geological Society of America Special Paper 484
SPE484, 70 p., $40.00; Member price $32.00
ISBN 978-0-8137-2484-3