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Report on Cotopaxi (Ecuador) — October 1975


Cotopaxi

Natural Science Event Bulletin, vol. 1, no. 1 (October 1975)
Managing Editor: David Squires.

Cotopaxi (Ecuador) Vapor plumes rising above the crater in September and October

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1975. Report on Cotopaxi (Ecuador) (Squires, D., ed.). Natural Science Event Bulletin, 1:1. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.NSEB197510-352050



Cotopaxi

Ecuador

0.677°S, 78.436°W; summit elev. 5911 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


On 23 July 1975 small grayish puffs of smoke were observed emanating from the crater. In mid-September a 300-m vapor plume rose above the crater, and a small earthquake shook the volcano on 24 September. In mid-October vapor plumes were reported to be increasing in volume and frequency. Cotopaxi last erupted in 1944.

Geological Summary. The symmetrical, glacier-covered, Cotopaxi stratovolcano is Ecuador's most well-known volcano and one of its most active. The steep-sided cone is capped by nested summit craters, the largest of which is about 550 x 800 m in diameter. Deep valleys scoured by lahars radiate from the summit of the andesitic volcano, and large andesitic lava flows extend to its base. The modern edifice has been constructed since a major collapse sometime prior to about 5,000 years ago. Pyroclastic flows (often confused in historical accounts with lava flows) have accompanied many explosive eruptions, and lahars have frequently devastated adjacent valleys. Strong eruptions took place in 1744, 1768, and 1877. Pyroclastic flows descended all sides of the volcano in 1877, and lahars traveled more than 100 km into the Pacific Ocean and western Amazon basin. Smaller eruptions have been frequent since that time.

Information Contacts: M. Hall, Escuela Politécnica, Quito.