Modeling glacier inherited on active volcanic areas. The case of the volcanic complex Cumbal

Abstract

This article shows the results of a geomorphological study made of the Cumbal Volcano (located in Nariño, Colombia) in which two volcanic structures were identified (one active and one in state of caldera), the geomorphological effect produced by glacier abrasion and its interaction with some volcanological phenomena. In order to identify the landforms from glaciers and volcanic processes, photo-interpretation on aerial photographs of the IGAC was accompanied by rising and field verification and geological information, soil type and land cover, which are variables that condition morphodynamics in the area, to finally get geomorphological mapping at a scale of 1: 25000. As a result we found that the main morphogenic processes of the study area correspond to the interaction in different periods of explosively volcanic activity, which is represented by the existence of extensive lava flows at the top, and crionivale processes and glacial abrasion associated with a cold period, whose pleniglacial periods dates from 35,000 AP, where glacial valleys can be identified from 3800 m.s.n.m. and lahars that fill hills formed by subrecent pyroclastic flows.