Edifice-collapse phenomena have, to date, received relatively little attention in Central America, although ∼40 major collapse events (≥0.1 km 3 ) from about two dozen volcanoes are known or inferred in this volcanic arc. Volcanoes subjected to gravitational failure are concentrated at the arc's western and eastern ends. Failures correlate positively with volcano elevation, substrate elevation, edifice height, volcano volume, and crustal thickness and inversely with slab descent angle. Collapse orientations are strongly influenced by the direction of slope of the underlying basement, and hence are predominately perpendicular to the arc (preferentially to the south) at its extremities and display more variable failure directions in the center of the arc. The frequency of collapse events in Central America is poorly constrained because of the lack of precise dating of deposits, but a collapse interval of ∼1000–2000 yr has been estimated during the Holocene. These high-impact events fortunately occur at low frequency, but the proximity of many Central American volcanoes to highly populated regions, including some of the region's largest cities, requires evaluation of their hazards. The primary risks are from extremely mobile debris avalanches and associated lahars, which in Central America have impacted now-populated areas up to ∼50 km from a source volcano. Lower probability risks associated with volcanic edifice collapse derive from laterally directed explosions and tsunamis. The principal hazards of the latter here result from potential impact of debris avalanches into natural or man-made lakes. Much work remains on identifying and describing debris-avalanche deposits in Central America. The identification of potential collapse sites and assessing and monitoring the stability of intact volcanoes is a major challenge for the next decade.

Abstract The eruption of El Jorullo (1759–1774) in Guanajuato, Mexico, generated substantial (100–300 m high) pyroclastic cones, an extensive ash blanket and a flow field of thick lavas. The cones have the aspect of scoria cones that result from Strombolian eruptions, but the ash blankets consist predominantly of sub millimetre-sized particles (comprising ≥80 wt% beyond 1 km from the vent). This combination of cones, fine deposit grain size, and moderate dispersal area has previously been attributed to ‘violent Strombolian’ eruptions. The ash blanket at El Jorullo comprises c . 40% of the erupted volume and contains hundreds of strictly parallel laminae, evidence for deposition by fallout from a great number of explosions such as those observed during the eruption of nearby Parícutin volcano (1943–1952). The high degree of fragmentation could have resulted from hydromagmatic activity, but the deposit mostly lacks evidence for significant involvement of external water. We consider that the predominantly fine grain size was probably produced by a combination of a high yield strength and viscosity of the erupting magmas, possibly high juvenile water content, and recycling and milling of pyroclasts within the vent. The lava flow field at El Jorullo constitutes c . 40% of the erupted volume. Eight major flows vary from 10 to 50 m thick. Flow thickness and yield strength (calculated from flow profiles) increased with time from c . 30 000 Pa for the earliest flows to c . 200 000 Pa for the latest.

Turrialba volcano's high summit elevation and steep slopes, its position upwind of the Central Valley, and its record of explosive eruptions all suggest that it poses a significant threat to Costa Rican population and economy. To better understand the nature and significance of this threat, the geology, stratigraphy, and recent eruptive history of Turrialba were investigated. Outcrops of lava and pyroclastic units from at least 20 eruptions of basalt to dacite are recorded in Turrialba's summit area. The majority of these eruptions preceded a major erosional period that may have involved glaciation and that produced a prominent northeast-facing valley at Turrialba. This period also was apparently marked by a dearth of volcanism. The post-erosional period began with eruptions of massive andesite to dacite lava flows ca. 9300 yr B.P. Five of the six most recent eruptions, including the eruption of 1864–1866 A.D., were small volume (<0.03 km 3 ) phreatic and phreatomagmatic explosive eruptions involving basalt and basaltic andesite. The exception was a Plinian eruption of silicic andesite at ca. 1970 yr B.P. with a volume of ∼0.2 km 3 . Turrialba's next eruption will likely be similar to the recent eruptions of basaltic to basaltic andesitic composition, although a larger volume and more destructive eruption of silicic andesite to dacite also is possible.