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Guagua Pichincha is a stratovolcano located 7 miles (11 km) from Ecuador's capital city of Quito. It has been the site of 25 historic eruptions. The volcano's last magmatic eruption occurred in 1660. This was an explosive eruption, and showered Quito with ash. All eruptions since that time have been phreatic. One such eruption, in 1993, killed two volcanologists working on the volcano's summit.
Although the volcanic activity remained at low levels with only gas plumes
rising from fumaroles, the amount of volcano-tectonic earthquakes increased
slightly and harmonic tremor was recorded between February 18 and 20.
Following heavy rainfall a series of seismic signals from rockfalls and lahars were recorded on the January 7. In addition, small fractures in the SE sector of the volcano and in the crater were observed. Scientists believe that this activity does not indicate a change in volcanic activity.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity ReportSeismic signals from a very minor eruption at Guagua Pichincha were detected
on April 17. Also, several volcano-tectonic earthquakes, signals of rockfalls
and a long-period earthquake were reported.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
November 5, 2002
On Nov. 3, at 2056 and 2115, explosions occurred. However, because of the Reventador
eruption that occurred earlier that day, information on the possible production
of ash plumes could not be collected.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
November 2, 2002
The small increase in phreatic explosions, after October 11, is believed to result from heavy rainfall at the volcano.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
After 6 months of inactivity, an explosion occurred at Pichincha on October 11th. Continuous background tremor including long-period and volcano-tectonic earthquakes have been recorded.
This information was summarized from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
On 12 July, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano sent ash five miles into the sky. Ecuador's Geophysical Institute said the eruption caused a portion of the crater to collapse. In 1998, the volcano once again became active after 339 years of dormancy.
This information was summarized from Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity.
On 16 April, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano sent clouds of vapor 1,640 feet into the sky over Quito. Officials from the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador stated that a major eruption could occur in the near future.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online.
On 10 April, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano erupted approximately 18 times. Ash clouds rose 2,625 feet into the air. More than 100 seismic tremors were recorded during the eruptions. A yellow alert was issued for the capital Quito.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online.
On 17 December, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano sent a seven mile high column of gas and ash into the air. The volcano remains under a yellow alert. Since volcanic ash can damage jet engines, the airport was closed.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online. For further information on the Guagua Pichincha Volcano refer to Geophysics Institute of Ecuador
On 8 December, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano once again exploded. The capital city of Quito remains on a conditional yellow alert. However, areas closer to the volcano are on orange alert.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online
The Guagua Pichincha Volcano erupted on 26 November, and a column of ash rose nine miles (14 km) into the sky. The volcano erupted again on 29 November and produced a column of ash and gas six miles high. The yellow alert for Guagua Pichincha remains in effect.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online
On 24 November, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano once again erupted and sent a column of ash into the sky that was 10 km high. Local schools and the airport have been closed. The volcano is still under a yellow alert.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online and the Global Volcanism Program.
On 17 November, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano erupted and sent smoke and ash skyward 16,400 feet. The ash eventually settled on the city of Quito. The alert level of the Guagua Pichincha Volcano remains at yellow.
This information was summarized from the Discovery Online.
The yellow alert is still in effect for the Guagua Pichincha Volcano. Seismic events between 21 October and 4 November 1999 have reached their highest peak since the activity began 15 months ago. Three to four thousand events per day have been registered. On 9 November, a magmatic explosion occurred and ash coated the city of Quito. An orange alert is in effect for the town of Lloa and the surrounding villages.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program.
On 29 October, there were no explosions in the past 24 hours, but numerous hybrid and long period earthquakes did occur. A gas column rose to a height of ~1,200 m. A new dome is present and the fumarolic plume rises to less than 100 m.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program.
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A lava dome containing huge blocks of a very viscous material is present at the western edge of the crater. Volcanic material collapses to the west producing pyroclastic flows and ash clouds. The process may continue for years. On 4 October, the volcano was returned to a Yellow Alert state. The Orange Alert is still effective for the town of Lloa. The citizens remain in temporary shelters.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program and Geophysics Institute of Ecuador
Click here for more information about Guagua Pichincha's Yellow Alert status. Note: Web site is in Spanish.
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On the morning of 7 October, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano erupted three times sending ash and boiling water skyward. A spectacular mushroom shaped cloud rose ~12 km (~7.5 miles) above the volcano. And elderly man died from respiratory complications, and other people suffered breathing difficulties and even loss of consciousness.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program and Discovery Online.
On 4 October, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano alert was downgraded to yellow in view of the decreased seismic activity. The Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School monitors the volcano. During the past 12 months, the Institute has received support from international experts from Canada, Colombia, France, Italy, and the United States. Phreatic and ash explosions are more frequent. Deformation of the dome has been observed and magmatic products are now present in the volcanic material expulsed. On 5 October, an ash cloud rose over 19,500 meters (~64,000 feet) and began to move eastward covering parts of Quito. Quito's airport and school remain closed. Lloa, the town with the highest risk area, has been evacuated to shelters.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program.
Rockfalls, increasing seismicity, and the growth or deformation of the dome continues. In the past 24 hours, there were 1403 long period earthquakes and 42 hybrid earthquakes. On the morning of 1 October, aerial observations found very strong fumarolic activity (plumes to 1500 m in height) from the dome in the caldera. However, there was a low value of 160 tons/day of SO2 flux.
The informatione was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program Volcano Listserv and the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador
The Guagua Pichincha activity continues, and another ash eruption occurred on 28 September at 2250. Ash fell to the South. The current level of alert is ORANGE.
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program Volcano Listserv.
On 27 September, an orange alert was issued for the eruption of Guagua Pichincha Volcano. Magma was found to be 2 km below the dome. For further information refer to the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador
This information was summarized from the Global Volcanism Program Volcano Listserv.
On the 3 and 4 of September, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano exploded. Clouds of gas and ash spewed 3.4 miles into the sky. Seismologists warn that further activity could threaten Ecuador's capital city of Quito.
This information was summarized from the Discovery Online.
On 16 August, a small phreatic eruption occurred at the Guagua Pichincha Volcano, followed by one hour of tremor. Eruptions on the 10-12 August have left a thin covering of ash on vegetation west of the dome. On 23 August, another small phreatic eruption occurred. On 24 August, there was a large explosion and a mushroom-shaped cloud rose to 6 km. a.s.l. Two smaller events followed.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Instituion's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
On 7 August, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano produced a small phreatic eruption, followed by a 40 minute tremor. Fumarolic activity is reduced in the 1981 and July 6 craters.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
On 2 August, a strong phreatic eruption occurred at the Guagua Pichincha Volcano. An ash column rose 2 km from the new crater on the W part of the dome.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
The Guagua Pichincha Volcano erupted on 14 July. The eruption was followed by six hours of tremors.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
During the month of June, Guagua Pichincha had 16 phreatic eruptions, two powerful eruptions (11 and 17 June), and two moderate eruptions (4 and 9 June). A total of 160 volcano-tectonic earthquakes were registered in June.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
As of 17 June 1999, the Guagua Pichincha Volcano is experiencing a period of intense fumarolic activity with occasional phreatic eruptions. On the 18th, fumarolic plumes were rising 300-400m.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
On 5 June 1999, a phreatic eruption occurred and another on 6 June. Moderate fumarolic activity continues at the dome with gas columns rising 100m.
This information was summarized from the Smithsonian Institution's Preliminary Notices of Volcanic Activity
January 10, 1999
An eruption at Guagua Pichincha occurred on January 10, sending huge clouds of ash and steam up to 2,400 feet (800 m) over the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. Local authorities issued a low-level alert. They warn that acid rain could threaten the area if eruptions continue.
This information was summarized from Discovery Online.
October 15, 1998 (Additional info sent from Giacomo Falorni)
Hello,
I am a new user of your web site and so far Iike what I've seen. I am a geologist and this summer worked for over 3 months on a project regarding lahar hazard for the city of Quito from the Guagua Pichincha volcano following an eruption. You can understand that I'm extremely interested in what is happening right now at the Pichincha.
I would like to point out a few interesting facts:
1) This summer, before the phreatic explosions started, the Quito fault
was highly active, with peaks of over 100 tremors per day. When this
activity died down the volcano started acting up and this pattern seems
to have been maintained ever since; the earthquakes in the fault pick
up, volcanic activity dies down and vice versa, with few exceptions;
2) As of yet there has been no deformation of the structure of the
volcano, which is kept under constant control by an EDM, several seismic
stations located around the volcano and a COSPEC by the Instituto
Geofisico of the Escuela Politecnica Nacional of Quito;
3) The older crater of the Pichincha, placed between the young Guagua Pichincha and the city of Quito, is called the Rucu Pichincha.
If anyone has some suggestions or ideas about the first point you are welcome to write.
Regards,
Giacomo Falorni
October 7, 1998
Over 30 phreatic explosions have occurred at Guagua Pichincha over the last several days. The largest explosions to date occurred on October 5. About two to three explosions occurred on that day. A yellow alert has been declared at the volcano, with the possibility of larger eruptions in the near future. Upon hearing this alert, residents of Quito ran to buy gas masks and canned food. Scientists, however, say that Pichincha volcano, located between Guagua Pichincha and Quito, would block any lava from reaching the capital city. The city could, however, be showered by volcanic ash.
This information was summarized from Boris Behncke's Italy's Volcanoes page and from Discovery Online.
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