Central America Volcanic Arc

graphical representation of a subduction zone

The Central America Volcanic Arc (often abbreviated to CAVA) is a chain of volcanoes which extends along the Pacific coast line of the Central American Isthmus, from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and down to northern Panama. This volcanic arc, which has a length of 1500 km, is formed by an active subduction zone along the western boundary of the Caribbean Plate.

The Central America Volcanic Arc includes hundreds of volcanic formations, ranging from major stratovolcanoes, to lava domes and cinder cones. Some of these have produced large explosive eruptions, like the colossal VEI 6 eruption of the Santa Maria volcano in 1902. Central America's highest volcanoes are found in Guatemala and include the Tajumulco and Tacaná, both above 4,000 meters. Several volcanoes in Central America are currently active, including Arenal, Turrialba, Irazú, Poás in Costa Rica; Cerro Negro, San Cristóbal, Concepción in Nicaragua; San Miguel, Santa Ana, Izalco in El Salvador; Santa Maria/Santiaguito, Pacaya, Fuego in Guatemala.

References

Alvarez-Gómez, José A. (2008). "Constraints from finite element modelling on the active tectonics of northern Central America and the Middle America Trench" (pdf). Tectonics. 27 (1008). American Geophysical Union: TC1008. doi:10.1029/2007TC002162. Retrieved 2008-08-04. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laysummary=, |laydate=, |laysource=, |month=, and |quotes= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

García Quintero, Janett Josefina (2007). Geometría, sismicidad y deformación de la placa de Cosos subducida (tesis) (pdf) (in Spanish). Mexico, D.F.: Centro de Geociencias, UNAM. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

Mann, Paul (2007). "Overview of plate tectonic history and its unresolved tectonic problems". In Bundschuh, Jochen & Guillermo E. Alvarado (Eds) (ed.). Central America: Geology, Resources and Hazards. Taylor & Francis. pp. 205–241. ISBN 978-0415416474. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, and |origdate= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Melían, G., I. Galindo, P. A. Hernández, N. M. Pérez, M. Fernández, G. Alvarado, W. Strauch, F. Barahona, D. López (9-2-2005). "Subduction process and diffuse CO2 degassing rates along Central America volcanic arc". Geophysical Research Abstracts. 7. European Geosciences Union. ISSN 1607-7962. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laysource=, |laydate=, |month=, |laysummary=, and |quotes= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Rose, W.I. (1999). "An improved age framework for late Quaternary silicic eruptions in northern Central America" (pdf). Bull Volcanol (61). Springer-Verlag: 106–120. Retrieved 2010-08-15. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laysource=, |laydate=, |laysummary=, and |quotes= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)