Eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, Colombia, on 13 November 1985: tephra fall and lahars.

Authors

J. L. Naranjo
H. Sigurdsson
S. N. Carey
W. Fritz

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1986

Abstract

A small Plinian eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia ejected 3.5 x 1010 kg of mixed dacite and andesite tephra on 13 November 1985, with a maximum column height of 31 km above sea level. Small pyroclastic flows and surges, generated during the initial stage of the eruption, caused surface melting of approximately 10% of the volcano's ice cap, leading to meltwater floods. The erosive floods incorporated soils and loose sediments from the volcano's flanks and developed into lahars, which claimed at least 25 000 lives. -Authors Facultad de Geologia y Minas, Univ. de Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Science

Volume

233

Issue

4767

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Naranjo, J. L., H. Sigurdsson, S. N. Carey, and W. Fritz. "Eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, Colombia, on 13 November 1985: tephra fall and lahars.." Science 233, 4767 (1986). doi: 10.1126/science.233.4767.961.