Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Details for: Pacaya
The Volcán de Pacaya massif rises above skyscrapers of the capital city of Guatemala, located only 30 km to the north. The rounded, forested lava dome of Cerro Grande forms the 2560 m high point at the left. The twin peak at the right is the historically active vent of Pacaya, with the right-hand summit being MacKenney cone, which has been active since 1965. The modern cone was constructed within an arcuate caldera whose rim forms the ridge on either side. Eruptions of Pacaya are often visible from Guatemala City. Photo by Bill Rose, 1989 (Michigan Technological University).
Volcano Number:342110
Volcano Name:Pacaya
Country:Guatemala
Volcano Type:Complex
Last Eruption:2020 CE
Elevation:2569m
Tectonic Setting:Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Pop. within 5km:4250
Pop. within 10km:53579
Pop. within 30km:2454482
Pop. within 100km:7033094
Latitude:14.382
Longitude:-90.601


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
342110 Pacaya 10735 Confirmed Eruption 2 Pc-Pt 1 tephra Radiocarbon (uncorrected) 400
342110 Pacaya 10736 Confirmed Eruption 3 ? Pc-Pt 5 tephra, Pacaya debris avalanche Tephrochronology 880
342110 Pacaya 10737 Confirmed Eruption 3 ? MacKenney Crater Pc-Pt 10 tephra Radiocarbon (uncorrected) 1160
342110 Pacaya 10738 Confirmed Eruption 3 ? Cerro Chino Pc-Pt 8 tephra Radiocarbon (uncorrected) 1360
342110 Pacaya 10739 Confirmed Eruption 3 Cerro Chino Pc-Pt 12 tephra Historical Observations 1565
342110 Pacaya 10740 Confirmed Eruption 3 Historical Observations 1623
342110 Pacaya 10741 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1651/2/18 1651/4/13
342110 Pacaya 10742 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1655
342110 Pacaya 10743 Confirmed Eruption 3 Historical Observations 1664
342110 Pacaya 10744 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1668 1669/6/29
342110 Pacaya 10745 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1671
342110 Pacaya 10746 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1674
342110 Pacaya 10747 Uncertain Eruption 1677
342110 Pacaya 10748 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1678
342110 Pacaya 10749 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1687/3/26 1687/3/27
342110 Pacaya 10750 Confirmed Eruption 2 ? Historical Observations 1690
342110 Pacaya 10751 Confirmed Eruption 2 ? Historical Observations 1693
342110 Pacaya 10752 Confirmed Eruption 2 ? Historical Observations 1699/6/29
342110 Pacaya 10753 Uncertain Eruption 1717
342110 Pacaya 10754 Uncertain Eruption 1760
342110 Pacaya 10755 Confirmed Eruption 3 Cerro Chino (SW flank and summit) Historical Observations 1775/7/1 1775/7/23
342110 Pacaya 10756 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1805
342110 Pacaya 10757 Uncertain Eruption 1830
342110 Pacaya 10758 Confirmed Eruption 2 Cerro Chino Historical Observations 1846
342110 Pacaya 10759 Confirmed Eruption 2 Historical Observations 1885
342110 Pacaya 10760 Confirmed Eruption 2 Cachajinas vent (South flank, 1860 m) Historical Observations 1961/3/11 1961/4/15
342110 Pacaya 10761 Confirmed Eruption 3 MacKenney Crater and flank vents Historical Observations 1965/7/4 1989/3/10
342110 Pacaya 10762 Confirmed Eruption 3 MacKenney Crater and flank vents Historical Observations 1990/1/4 2000/3/1
342110 Pacaya 10763 Confirmed Eruption 1 MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2000/8/16 2001/7/5
342110 Pacaya 19880 Confirmed Eruption 1 MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2001/10/31 2001/10/31
342110 Pacaya 19886 Confirmed Eruption 1 ? MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2002/5/30 2002/6/17
342110 Pacaya 19887 Confirmed Eruption 3 ? MacKenney Cone and lower S flank Historical Observations 2004/7/19 2005/9/11
342110 Pacaya 20802 Confirmed Eruption 2 MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2013/3/5 2014/4/10
342110 Pacaya 22157 Confirmed Eruption 1 MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2015/6/7 2020/9/17
342110 Pacaya 22213 Confirmed Eruption 3 MacKenney Cone Historical Observations 2006/3/9 2010/10/26
342110 Pacaya 22222 Confirmed Eruption 1 MacKenney Crater Historical Observations 2014/8/25 2015/2/17
Emissions Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Emission ID SO2 Kilotons Start Date End Date
285 1 1989/03/09 1989/03/09
286 23 2010/05/28 2010/05/28
287 2 2014/03/02 2014/03/02

Data from the Earthchem Library
Title Author Release Date DOI Link
A reassessment of current volcanic emissions from the Central American arc with specific examples from Nicaragua Mather, T. 2015-05-15 10.1594/IEDA/100539 Details
Regional variations in volatile composition: Isotopic evidence for carbonate recycling in the Central American volcanic arc Snyder, Glen 2015-07-01 10.1594/IEDA/100547 Details
The Geochemistry of Central American Volcanic Gas Condensates Stoiber, Richard 2015-11-01 10.1594/IEDA/100573 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: Amatitlan (View Details at MaGa DB)
Description: Lake Amatitlán (Lago Amatitlán, Spanish pronunciation: [laɣo amatiˈtlan]) is a volcanic lake in south-central Guatemala, fairly close to Guatemala City. The lake is 11 km (7 miles) long and 3 km (2 miles) wide; with an area of 15.2 square kilometers (5.9 sq mi) and a water volume of 0.286 cubic kilometers.
Hazard Description: not reported
Type: lake
Region: Guatemala Department, Guatemala
Country: Guatemala
Volcanic Complex: Amatitlán
Gas Flux Data:
Measurement Name Detail Date Specie Flux Std. Dev. Unit of Measure
Amatitlan_01012008 Detail 2008/01/01 CO2 67 17.6 Mg/d