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Report on Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) — 30 January-5 February 2008


Guagua Pichincha

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 30 January-5 February 2008
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 30 January-5 February 2008. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (30 January-5 February 2008)

Guagua Pichincha

Ecuador

0.171°S, 78.598°W; summit elev. 4784 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


IG reported seven moderate phreatic explosions from Guagua Pichincha on 1 February, following a few weeks of slightly increased internal activity and a few days of almost constant precipitation. IG recommended that visitors stay away from inside the caldera.

Geological Summary. Guagua Pichincha and the older Pleistocene Rucu Pichincha stratovolcanoes form a broad volcanic massif that rises immediately W of Ecuador's capital city, Quito. A lava dome grew at the head of a 6-km-wide scarp formed during a late-Pleistocene slope failure ~50,000 years ago. Subsequent late-Pleistocene and Holocene eruptions from the central vent consisted of explosive activity with pyroclastic flows accompanied by periodic growth and destruction of the lava dome. Many minor eruptions have been recorded since the mid-1500's; the largest took place in 1660, when ash fell over a 1,000 km radius and accumulated to 30 cm depth in Quito. Pyroclastic flows and surges also occurred, primarily to then W, and affected agricultural activity.

Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)