<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Lahars are a widespread phenomenon in volcanic environments and good knowledge generally exists on contemporary, syn-eruptive lahar activity. Much less data is, by contrast, available on post-eruptive lahars and/or hydrogeomorphic processes out of extinct volcanic complexes. In this study we present a reconstruction of intra-eruptive lahar activity in Axaltzintle valley (Malinche volcano) using growth-ring records of 86 <italic>Abies religiosa</italic> trees. Based on the identification of 217 growth disturbances, field evidence and hydrological records we reconstruct a total of 19 lahars for the period 1945–2011. The reconstructed lahars were mostly triggered by moderate intensity, but persistent rainfalls with sums of at least ~100 mm. By contrast, the 1998 and 2005 lahars were presumably triggered by hurricane-induced torrential rainfalls with >100 mm in three days.</p></abstract>

Lahars are a widespread phenomenon in volcanic environments and good knowledge generally exists on contemporary, syn-eruptive lahar activity. Much less data is, by contrast, available on post-eruptive lahars and/or hydrogeomorphic processes out of extinct volcanic complexes. In this study we present a reconstruction of intra-eruptive lahar activity in Axaltzintle valley (Malinche volcano) using growth-ring records of 86 Abies religiosa trees. Based on the identification of 217 growth disturbances, field evidence and hydrological records we reconstruct a total of 19 lahars for the period 1945–2011. The reconstructed lahars were mostly triggered by moderate intensity, but persistent rainfalls with sums of at least ~100 mm. By contrast, the 1998 and 2005 lahars were presumably triggered by hurricane-induced torrential rainfalls with >100 mm in three days.

Tree-ring based record of intra-eruptive lahar activity: Axaltzintle valley, Malinche volcano, Mexico

Instituto de Geografía. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacán, 04510,

Instituto de Geografía. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacán, 04510,

Dendrolab.ch. Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 1+3, CH-3012 Bern,

Climate Change and Impacts, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 7 route de Drize, CH-1227 Carouge,

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Lahars are a widespread phenomenon in volcanic environments and good knowledge generally exists on contemporary, syn-eruptive lahar activity. Much less data...

Tree-ring based record of intra-eruptive lahar activity: Axaltzintle valley, Malinche volcano, Mexico

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jun 11, 2016

Page range: 74 - 83

Received: Jul 07, 2015

Accepted: Feb 02, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0033

© 2016 O. Franco-Ramos

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.