Hugo Delgado Granados

Paleomagnetism of the Pleistocene Tequila Volcanic Field (Western Mexico)

This paper presents new paleomagnetic results from 24 independent cooling units in Tequila area (western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt). These units were recently dated by means of state-of-the-art 40Ar-39Ar method (Lewis-Kenedy et al., 2005) and span from 1130 to 150 ka. The characteristic paleodirections are successfully isolated for 20 cooling units. The mean paleodirection, discarding intermediate polarity sites, is I = 29.6°, D = 359.2°, k = 26, α95 = 7.1°, n = 17, which corresponds to the mean paleomagnetic pole position Plat = 85.8°, Plong = 84.3°, K = 27.5, A95 = 6.9°. These directions are practically undistinguishable from the expected Plestocene paleodirections, as derived from reference poles for the North American polar wander curve and in agreement with previously reported directions from western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. This suggests that no major tectonic deformation occurred in studied area since early-middle Plestocene to present. The paleosecular variation is estimated trough the study of the scatter of virtual geomagnetic poles giving SF = 15.4 with SU = 19.9 and SL = 12.5 (upper and lower limits respectively). These values are consistent with those predicted by the latitude-dependent variation model of McFadden et al. (1991) for the last 5 Myr. The interesting feature of the paleomagnetic record obtained here is the occurrence of an intermediate polarity at 671 ± 13 ka which may correspond the worldwide observed Delta excursion at about 680–690 ka. This gives the volcanic evidence of this event. Two independent lava flows dated as 362 ±13 and 354 ±5 ka respectively, yield transitional paleodirections as well, probably corresponding to the Levantine excursion.

Integrating Efforts in Latin America: Asociación Latinoamericana de Volcanología (ALVO)

The Latin American region (LAR) comprises 11 countries with volcanoes characterized by a high frequency of eruptive activity. Several important eruptions have occurred within LAR in the last century with a large impact on human life, society, infrastructure, and the environment. The volcanic disasters have forced scientists and governments to find better ways to cope with eruptive phenomena. The cultural background of the LAR people as well as the usage of a common language has facilitated the communication of experiences about eruptions. It was needed, however, to establish scientific, technical, and political ties to connect volcanologists, volcanological organizations, and institutions of the region. Thus, the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Volcanologia was created as an association pursuing an amelioration of volcanology in the LAR for the benefit of the society. This chapter describes the integration efforts for a stronger volcanology in LAR, starting from reflections made under the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) methodology.Abstract The Latin American region (LAR) comprises 11 countries with volcanoes characterized by a high frequency of eruptive activity. Several important eruptions have occurred within LAR in the last century with a large impact on human life, society, infrastructure, and the environment. The volcanic disasters have forced scientists and governments to find better ways to cope with eruptive phenomena. The cultural background of the LAR people as well as the usage of a common language has facilitated the communication of experiences about eruptions. It was needed, however, to establish scientific, technical, and political ties to connect volcanologists, volcanological organizations, and institutions of the region. Thus, the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Volcanologia was created as an association pursuing an amelioration of volcanology in the LAR for the benefit of the society. This chapter describes the integration efforts for a stronger volcanology in LAR, starting from reflections made under the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) methodology.

Strategic planning of information from Research and Volcano Monitoring Institutions in Latin America

This article proposes the use of strategic planning of information systems to improve the management of information concerning to the volcano monitoring equipment that is in charge of the Research institutions and volcano monitoring in Latin America (RIVMLA). In first place, technology needs are analyzed for information management; subsequently it explains how the strategic plan of information systems is being develop and lastly it gives a concrete result that consist in the construction of the software GLOVOREMID (Global Volcano Research and Monitoring Institutions Database) product and it evaluates the improvements of management information. The surveys that were applied in the first part of the investigation, shows that the majority of the RIVMLA uses spreadsheets as a tool to store data from volcanic activity and volcanic monitoring tools, that identifies a general knowledge of relational bases from scientist and technicians, but still needs the appropriation of RIVMLA information technologies. As a result product of this investigation process and through the application of information management strategies, it presents a software denominated GLOVOREMID, which facilitates the diagnosis of volcano monitoring in Latin America.