Guatemala

Want to Buy Volcano Monitoring Equipment for Volcanologists in Guatemala?

The IVM-Fund is raising money to purchase field equipment and volcano monitoring instrumentation for the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory in Guatemala. This fundraising effort is being spearheaded by Jessica Ball, a volcanology graduate student at SUNY Buffalo. Learn more about the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory.

Santiaguito volcano is a large, lava dome complex located on the flank of the conical Santa Maria volcano in southwestern Guatemala. Santiaguito has been growing (i.e. erupting lava) since 1922 and is one of the most active and hazardous volcanoes in Central America. The most recent explosive activity at Santiaguito occurred on April 26, 2010 and resulted in ash-laden plumes reaching ~8 km altitude. The ash fall affected nearby villages and closed schools. Other significant hazards at Santiaguito include lahars (mud flows) and pyroclastic flows (i.e. hot ash, gases, and rock) generated by lava dome collapse.

The IVM-Fund is collaborating directly with Gustavo Chigna, director of the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory, which is part of the Guatemalan national volcano institute INSIVUMEH (Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meterologia, e Hidrologia). We are also collaborating with Rudiger Escobar Wolf, a Guatemalan volcanology graduate student at Michigan Tech University. These individuals provided the IVM-Fund with a list of equipment needed to help personnel at the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory to conduct their work of continuously monitoring the activity levels of the volcano. In the event of a hazardous increase in activity, the volcano data gathered by observatory personnel is shared with Guatemalan emergency response officials to safeguard the public.

Please go to the DONATE page and make a donation to the IVM-Fund. Any amount helps. We will purchase and deliver the equipment on your behalf to the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory.

List of equipment requested by the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory

1. Handheld GPS (e.g. Garmin eTrex Vista)

Cost: US$220

Purpose: precisely map hazardous areas and locations of monitoring equipment

Go to the DONATE page and give US$220 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

2. Laser Rangefinder (e.g. TruPulse 200)

Cost: US$770

Purpose: Measure the dimensions of the lava dome as well as ravines down which lahars and pyroclastic flows travel.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$770 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

3. Temperature/pH meter (e.g. Hanna Instruments HI991001)

Cost: US$327

Purpose: monitor the acidity and temperature at hot springs near the volcano

Go to the DONATE page and give US$327 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

4. Compass (e.g. Brunton 8099 Pro Compass)

Cost: US$88

Purpose: Geologist’s tool used for mapping the strike and dip of rock units.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$88 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

5. Digital camera (e.g. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 14.1 megapixel digital camera with 10x zoom)

Cost: US$219

Purpose: To keep a photographic record of changes at the volcano.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$219 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

6. Pair of Walkie-Talkie radios with >30 km range (e.g. Motorola Talkabout EM1000R)

Cost: US$55

Purpose: Enable effective communication between volcanologists working in the field.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$55 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

7. Two desktop computers with monitors (e.g. Dell Inspiron 560)

Cost: US$671 each

Purpose: One computer dedicated to receiving and storing incoming volcano monitoring data and the other computer used for data analysis.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$671 to buy a computer and monitor for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

8. Two Headlamps (e.g. Black Diamond Cosmo LED Headlamp)

Cost: US$23 each

Purpose: Light up the trail on the way home after a long day working at the volcano.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$23 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

9. Multi-function tool (e.g. Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman Tool)

Cost: US$40

Purpose: Fix just about anything.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$40 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

10. Two Geologist Rock Hammers

Cost: US$35 each

Purpose: Lava rock is pretty solid stuff. You need one of these if you want to collect a sample!

Go to the DONATE page and give US$35 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

11. Two Geological Hand Lenses

Cost: US$30 each

Purpose: Geologists identify rocks by looking at the minerals in them. Minerals are small so you need a hand lens to get a good look at them.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$30 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

12. Portable Seismic Station

Cost: ~US$5000

Purpose: Monitor seismic activity at the volcano when and where needed

Go to the DONATE page and give US$5000 to buy this item for the Santiaguito Volcano Observatory in Guatemala.

13. Metal tape measure (30 m/100 ft)

Cost: $31

Purpose: Measure the dimensions of a lava flow.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$31 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

14. Handheld Infrared Thermometer (e.g. Omega OS423-LS)

Cost: US$234

Purpose: Measure the temperature of lava and lahars

Go to the DONATE page and give US$234 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

15. Clinometer (e.g. Brunton Clino Master)

Cost: US $131

Purpose: Measure the height of volcanic eruption columns

Go to the DONATE page and give US$131 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

16. Leatherman Tool (e.g. Leatherman Super Tool 300)

Cost: US$83

Purpose: Fix just about anything.

Go to the DONATE page and give US$83 to buy this item for a volcanologist in Guatemala.

Total Amount of Money Raised for Guatemala: $2330

Funds Needed to Purchase Items Above: $8715

Fundraising Goal for Guatemala: $10,000