Stephanie Grocke
Volcanologist
Gabby Salazar
Photographer
Ross Donihue
Cartographer
Theywereattendingameetingofscientistsandadventurers.Ittookonlyafewminutesfor volcanologistStephanieGrocketorealizeshehadfoundtwoperfectpartners.GrockewantedtotellthestoryofavolcanicsystemshehadbeenstudyinginGuatemala.Soon,photographerGabbySalazarand cartographerRossDonihuewerehookedontheidea, too.
AnExplosiveStart
In1902,theSantaMaríavolcanoinGuatemalaexperiencedadevastatingeruption.Itrankedasoneofthelargestofthe20thcentury.Theeventdestroyedthesurroundinglandscape.Itleftahugecraterinthesideofthemountain.Italsodepositedalotofashandvolcanicdebris.Lavaflowsbeganeruptingatitsbasein1922.Overtime,theflowinglavacreatedalava‑domecomplex,named Santiaguito.
Lavadomes form whenstickymagmaeruptsfrom a vent andpoursontoEarth’ssurface.Themagmaisthencalledlava.Thislavaistoothickandgooeytoflowfar.So,itpilesupandmakesalarge dome.
Pumiceisalightandporousvolcanic rock.
Aplumeofashfroman eruptionrisesabovethe clouds.
Calientewasthefirstdome.ThenthemagmamovedwesttoformotherdomescalledLa Mitad,El Monje,andEl Brujo.ThenthemagmamovedbacktoCalienteandisnowerupting there.
APlacetoStudy
Since1922,therehavebeenalmostcontinuouseruptionsamongthefourlavadomes.Theyhappensooften,theyfeelroutinetothoselivinginnearby Quetzaltenango.
ToGrocke,thisistheperfectplaceforstudyingactivevolcanoes.Andit’sagoodplacetotestanewmethodtomonitorlava‑dome activity.
So,Grockeplannedamonth‑longexpeditionwithSalazarandDonihue.Shewantedtotry photogrammetry, atypeoftime‑lapsephotography.Itallowsyoutoobservechangesoveraperiodof time.
Itwouldhelpthemseechangesinthedomes.SheknewSalazarcouldhelpwiththis.Donihuewouldmaptheirexpedition.Hewouldalsomakeinfographicstohelpshowtherisksofactive volcanoes.
SantiaguitoComplex
The1902eruptionofSantaMaríaproducedahugecrater.Overtime,fourlavadomesformedatits base.
seismicmonitoring station
Santa María
El Caliente
La Mitad
El Monje
El Brujo
GULFOF MEXICO
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
NORTH AMERICA
GUATEMALA
Santiaguito Complex
CARIBBEAN SEA
PACIFIC
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA