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Mt. Coropuna is the largest of
all volcanoes located in Peru. It is an extinct volcano in the Pacific
side of the Andes that reaches a summit elevation of 6,377 m.
Nevado Coropuna is a stratovolcano that has half a dozen summit cones
scattered on its complex. This volcano has been
dormant for a long time. Scientists do not have any record of when this volcano last erupted. Scientists, however, believe that something
abrupt happened 5,200 years ago. They are still studying this volcano today.
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More about Volcano |
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As snow falls onto the ice
caps, it forms different layers, or cores, and gets packed on tightly.
This indicates annual accumulations. Scientists can estimate the age of
the core by counting the layers just like the tree rings on a tree.
There were three cores found on the volcano. Scientists drill the cores
and measure them to estimate the age. The first two cores were
drilled at the rim of the crater. They measured just over 34 meters
each. The scientists that test this volcano believe that these
were about 300 years old. The third core was drilled at the mountain’s
summit, and it measured 146.3 meters. This core provides the best
information on resolved climate history in the region for the last 2000
years. |
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The large core at Coropuna had
mysterious evidence that may eventually lead to the understanding causes
to this volcano going dormant. While drilling, they found an insect that was
perfectly preserved. They found this 64 meters down in the hole. Other
significant evidence was found as well. The team had found three plant fragments
retrieved 117 meters in the core. This evidence was important for
establishing a time line. The team’s theory is that the specimens
were carried onto Coropuna from the Altiplano by thunderstorm winds. The Altiplano is a
high and long plateau below the summit site. |
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More about Peru |
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To get more information on
climate history, a team of scientists headed to a different ice cap
located 270 miles northeast of Nevado Coropuna. This cap is called Quelccaya. They drilled two cores on the north
side of the ice cap. Each core
measured approximately 128.6 meters. These cores may produce additional evidence dating
as far back
as 1000 years. One other core was drilled. It measured 168.7 meters.
It is supposed to cover a 2000 year timeline. All this
will help piece together what happened 5200 years ago. |
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The scientists found a
remarkable wetland plant that was preserved. This DNA dated back 5200
years. It is a soft-bodied plant that had been snowed on. The
snowfall and climate change captured the plant but had destroy its
original state.
Scientists found a second plant. Carbon dating shows that the 2nd plant had been
buried 2200 years ago. This evidence, helps scientists to
determine that
the climate was different back then. The water temperature that flows
on the coast of Peru had been much warmer. |
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More about Snow |
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Scientist are still studying what
caused Coropuna to become dormant. Existing facts point to a climate change from approximately 5200 years ago. |
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Sources |
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http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/quelcoro.htm |
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coropuna |
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http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1504-003 |
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Written By Kailani |
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