Tree-ring reconstruction of past lahar activity at Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico
Por:
Bollschweiler M., Stoffel M., Vázquez-Selem L., Palacios D.
Publicada:
1 mar 2010
Resumen:
Lahars represent a major threat on the slopes of volcanoes all over the world. In order to realistically assess hazards, knowledge on the occurrence and timing of past lahar activity is of crucial importance. However, archival data on past events is usually scarce or completely missing. Tree-ring records have repeatedly proved to be a reliable data source for the reconstruction of past geomorphic events. However, tree rings have seldom been applied for the identification of past lahars. Therefore, it was the aim of this study: (i) to identify and describe disturbances in tree growth induced by well-documented lahar events and on this basis; and (ii) to recognise older, unknown lahar events with tree-ring analyses. Based on these goals, we collected 140 tree-ring series from 62 trees (Abies religiosao, Pinus hartwegii and Pinus ayacahuite) standing inside or adjacent to the lahar channel in the Huiloac gorge at Popocatepetl volcano, central Mexico. Most commonly, the known lahar events
Filiaciones:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geog, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 1-3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Department of Geosciences, Geography, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
Climatic Change and Climate Impacts, Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Route de Drize 7, CH-1227 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland
Department of Physical Geography, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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