From crater to channel, Volcán de Colima

The 10–11 July 2015 eruption at Volcán de Colima provided a unique opportunity to better understand pyroclastic density currents, one of the most dangerous phenomena occurring in explosive volcanic eruptions. A lahar monitoring station installed 6 km from the volcano summit recorded a pyroclastic density current before being completely destroyed. The deposits from the 10 July event extend up to 9 km from the crater, while the pyroclastic density currents of 11 July inundate all of the ravine up to a distance of 10.5 km from the crater. Pyroclastic density currents are still poorly documented, and this event provided a unique research opportunity for studying their dynamics.