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Typology of Natural Hazards and Assessment of Associated Risks in the Mount Bambouto Caldera (Cameroon Line, West Cameroon)
Author(s) -
ZANGMO Ghislain T.,
KAGOU Armand D.,
NKOUATHIO David G.,
WANDJI Pierre
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2009.00130.x
Subject(s) - caldera , stratovolcano , volcano , geology , physical geography , mount , landslide , population , geography , pyroclastic rock , geomorphology , seismology , demography , sociology , computer science , operating system
Mount Bambouto is a polygenic stratovolcano of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, built between 21 Ma and 4.5 Ma. It is situated approximately 200 km NE of Mount Cameroon, between 09° 55′ and 10°15′ longitude east and, 05°25′ and 05°50′ latitude north. The volcano covers an area of 500 km 2 and culminates at 2740 m at Mélétan dome and bears a collapsed caldera at the summit (13 × 8 km). Mount Bambouto is characterized by several natural hazards of different origins: meteorological, such as landslides and rock falls; anthropogenic, such as bushfires, tribal wars and deforestation; and volcanological, such as volcanic eruption. The thematic map shows that 55–60% of the caldera has high probability of occurrence of mass movement. The caldera has a high population density (3000 inhabitants), which increases the level of risk, evaluated at approximately $US3.8 million for patrimony, 3000 civilian deaths and destruction of biodiversity.