Abstract
Persistent activity at Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua, is characterised by cycles of intense degassing, lava lake development and pit crater formation. It provides a useful site to study the processes which govern such activity, because of its easy accessibility and relatively short cycles (years to decades). An understanding of the present activity is important because Masaya is visited by large numbers of tourists, is located close to major cities and has produced voluminous lavas, plinian eruptions and ignimbrites in the recent past. We provide structural and geophysical data that characterise the "normal" present state of activity. These indicate that the ongoing degassing phase (1993 to present) was not caused by fresh magma intrusion. It was associated with shallow density changes within the active Santiago pit crater. The activity appears to be associated predominantly with shallow changes in the pit crater structure. More hazardous activity will occur only if there are significant departures from the present gravity, deformation and seismic signatures.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 16 May 1997 / Accepted: 29 October 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rymer, H., van Wyk de Vries, B., Stix, J. et al. Pit crater structure and processes governing persistent activity at Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua. Bull Volcanol 59, 345–355 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004450050196
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004450050196