ThethreeexplorersmetattheNationalGeographic Society.
Theydidnotknoweachother.Yet,theybecameperfect partners.
Stephanie Grocke
Volcanologist
Gabby Salazar
Photographer
Ross Donihue
Cartographer
StephanieGrockeisavolcanologist. GabbySalazarisaphotographer.RossDonihueisa cartographer.
Grockewantedtotellthestoryofavolcano.Shehadbeenstudyingit.ItwasinGuatemala.ShethoughtSalazarandDonihuecouldhelp.Theythoughtso, too.
AnExplosiveStart
In1902,theSantaMaríavolcanoerupted.Itmadeahugecrater,orhole.Itleftbehindalotofashandrock.Later,meltedrockslowlyleakedoutatthevolcano’sbase.Themeltedrockmadefourlava domes.
Meltedrockundergroundiscalledmagma.Lavadomesaremadefrommagma.Iteruptsfrom a vent, oropening.ThemeltedrockpoursontoEarth’ssurface.Nowitiscalledlava.Thelavapilesup.Itmakesadome.Santa Maríahasfourlava domes.
Ashfromaneruptionrisesabovethe clouds.
APlacetoStudy
TherehavebeenmanyeruptionsatSantaMaría.Peoplewholivenearbyareusedtoit.ToGrocke,thisseemedlikeagoodplacetostudylava domes.
Shewantedtotakepicturesofthedomesovertime.Thatway,shecouldseechangestakingplace.SheknewSalazarcouldhelptakethe pictures.
Donihuewouldmakeamapanddiagrams.Hewouldtakepicturesfromtheairusingadrone, too.
Santa María
El Caliente
La Mitad
El Monje
El Brujo
TherearefourlavadomesatthebaseoftheSanta Maria volcano.
GULFOF MEXICO
ATLANTIC OCEAN
NORTH AMERICA
GUATEMALA
Santiaguito Complex
CARIBBEAN SEA
PACIFIC
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA