Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Details for: Chichon, El
The steaming crater of El Chichón volcano is seen here in January 1983, less than a year after a major explosive eruption formed a new 1-km-wide crater that later was partially filled by a steaming, acidic lake. The isolated El Chichón volcano is a small, but powerful andesitic tuff cone and lava dome complex. Prior to 1982, this relatively unknown volcano was heavily forested and of no greater height than adjacent non-volcanic peaks. More than a half dozen large explosive eruptions have occurred since the mid-Holocene. Photo by Bill Rose, 1983 (Michigan Technological University).
Volcano Number:341120
Volcano Name:Chichon, El
Country:Mexico
Volcano Type:Lava dome(s)
Last Eruption:1982 CE
Elevation:1150m
Tectonic Setting:Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Pop. within 5km:3759
Pop. within 10km:11000
Pop. within 30km:143015
Pop. within 100km:3570632
Latitude:17.36
Longitude:-93.228


Eruption Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Volcano Number Volcano Name Eruption Number Activity Type Explosivity Index Max Explosivity Index Modifier Activity Area Activity Unit Start Evidence Method Start Date End Date
341120 Chichon, El 10598 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit L Radiocarbon (corrected) -6510
341120 Chichon, El 10599 Confirmed Eruption 5 Tephra unit K Radiocarbon (corrected) -2030
341120 Chichon, El 10600 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit J Radiocarbon (corrected) -1340
341120 Chichon, El 10601 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit I Radiocarbon (corrected) -700
341120 Chichon, El 10602 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit H Radiocarbon (corrected) -20
341120 Chichon, El 10603 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit G Radiocarbon (corrected) 190
341120 Chichon, El 10604 Confirmed Eruption Tephra unit F Radiocarbon (corrected) 480
341120 Chichon, El 10605 Confirmed Eruption 3 Tephra unit E Radiocarbon (corrected) 590
341120 Chichon, El 10606 Confirmed Eruption 5 Tephra unit D Radiocarbon (corrected) 780
341120 Chichon, El 10607 Confirmed Eruption 4 Tephra unit C Radiocarbon (corrected) 1190
341120 Chichon, El 10608 Confirmed Eruption 5 Tephra unit B Radiocarbon (corrected) 1360
341120 Chichon, El 10609 Confirmed Eruption Anthropology 1850
341120 Chichon, El 10610 Confirmed Eruption 5 Tephra unit A Historical Observations 1982/3/28 1982/9/11
Emissions Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Emission ID SO2 Kilotons Start Date End Date
276 8090 1982/03/29 1982/04/04

Data from the Earthchem Library
Title Author Release Date DOI Link
Geochemistry of fumarolic and bubbling gases from El Chichón Volcano, Chiapas, Mexico Taran, Yuri 2015-11-01 10.1594/IEDA/100575 Details
The emissions of CO2 and other volatiles from the world’s subaerial volcanoes The emissions of CO2 and other volatiles from the world’s subaerial volcanoes Fischer, Tobias 2020-11-21 10.1594/IEDA/111445 Details
Data from the Earthchem Portal

Data from the SESAR Database

Data from the MaGa Database
Location: El Chichon (View Details at MaGa DB)
Description: The El Chichón dome complex (1,100 m.a.s.l.) is located in the northwestern part of the State of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico. Currently, intense hydrothermal activity, consisting of fumaroles (mainly at the boiling point), steaming grounds, a soap-pool and an acidic (pH≈2.3) and warm lake (~30 °C) occur in the summit crater. With the low pH of the lake, CO2 is mainly present as a gaseous phase and dissolved in water.
Hazard Description: not reported
Type: lake
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Country: Mexico
Volcanic Complex: El Chichon
Gas Flux Data:
Measurement Name Detail Date Specie Flux Std. Dev. Unit of Measure
El Chichon_01032007 Detail 2007/03/01 CO2 164 9.5 Mg/d
El Chichon_01012007 Detail 2007/01/01 CO2 59 2.5 Mg/d
El Chichon_01012008 Detail 2008/01/01 CO2 144 5.9 Mg/d
El Chichon_SE soil_01042015 Detail 2015/04/01 CO2 21 3 Mg/d
El Chichon_SE soil_01112013 Detail 2013/11/01 CO2 43 8 Mg/d
El Chichon_SE soil_01042013 Detail 2013/04/01 CO2 19 7.8 Mg/d