Physical volcanology of the post-twelfth-century activity at Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador: Behavior of an andesitic central volcano

Pistolesi, Marco; Rosi, Mauro; Cioni, Raffaello; Cashman, Katharine V.; Rossotti, Andrea; Aguilera, Eduardo

doi:10.1130/b30301.1

Cited by 48 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The volcano's five most important eruptive episodes during the historical period (since 1532) have been of andesitic composition and ranged between VEI = 3 and 4 (Pistolesi et al 2012). Nonetheless, the volcano is bi-modal and produces VEI = 5 rhyolitic eruptions about every 2000 years (Hall and Mothes 2008).…”

Section: Cotopaxi Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At Cotopaxi ample geological and historical information exists with regard to its past activity (Hall and Mothes 2008;Garrison et al 2011;Pistolesi et al 2012). Formulation of eruptive scenarios with respect to the 2015 unrest period were based on our collective knowledge of the volcano's geology and eruptive history and published information as well as interpretation of the abundant geophysical data streams available through instrumental and observational networks operated by the Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN)-Quito, Ecuador, the entity in charge of volcano and tectonic monitoring in Ecuador.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geophysical Footprints of Cotopaxi’s Unrest and Minor Eruptions in 2015: An Opportunity to Test Scientific and Community Preparedness

Mothes

Ruiz

Viracucha

et al. 2017

Advances in Volcanology

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Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador, experienced notable restlessness in 2015 that was a major deviation from its normal background activity. Starting in April and continuing through November 2015 strong seismic activity, infrasound registry, hikes in SO 2 degassing and flank deformation with small displacements were some of the geophysical anomalies that were registered. Obvious superficial changes, such as small hydromagmatic eruptions, emission of vapor and ash columns, thermal hotspots around the crater and in nearby orifices and exacerbated glacier melting were also observed. Our contribution provides an overview of the 2015 Cotopaxi unrest by presenting the patterns of geophysical data and the sequence of events produced by the volcano. Cotopaxi's last important VEI 4 eruption was in 1877. Then it had devastating effects because of the transit of huge lahars down 3 major drainages. Comparatively, the 2015 activity never surpassed a magnitude VEI 2 and principally produced limited hydromagmatic explosions and semi-continuous low energy emissions and light ashfalls. Given the potential of major destruction from a large Cotopaxi eruption it is important to understand the geophysical fingerprints that characterized the 2015 episode with an eye to identifying onset of future restless periods. Overall, the monitoring activities, the data interpretation, formulation of reasonable eruptive scenarios, and finally, the preparation of a stream of constant information being relayed to concerned authorities and the public, was a real test of the IGEPN's capacity to deal with a complicated eruption situation whose outcome was not apparent at the beginning, but which concluded in a very small eruptive episode. ResumenEn 2015 el volcán Cotopaxi, Ecuador experimento un notable cambio, que fue una desviación importante de su actividad normal de base. A partir de abril y hasta noviembre de 2015 fuerte actividad sísmica, registros de infrasonido, incremento en la desgasificación de SO 2 y pequeños cambios en la deformación de los flancos fueron algunas de las anomalías geofísicas registradas. Evidentes cambios superficiales también fueron observados como pequeñas erupciones hidromagmaticas, emisión de vapor, columnas de cenizas, puntos calientes alrededor del cráter y el deshielo de los glaciares. Nuestra contribución proporciona una visión general de las anomalías del Cotopaxi en el 2015, mediante la presentación de patrones de los datos geofísicos y la secuencia de eventos producidos por el volcán. La última erupción importante del Cotopaxi fue un VEI 4 en 1877. Esta tuvo efectos devastadores debido al descenso de enormes lahares por sus tres drenajes mayores. Comparativamente, la actividad del año 2015 nunca superó una magnitud VEI 2, principalmente produciendo explosiones hidromagmaticas, escasas emisiones y leves caídas de ceniza. Debido a la potencial destrucción por una eventual erupción grande del Cotopaxi es importante entender los registros geofísicos que caracterizó el episodio de 2015 para poder identificar el inic...

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Section: Cotopaxi Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geophysical Footprints of Cotopaxi’s Unrest and Minor Eruptions in 2015: An Opportunity to Test Scientific and Community Preparedness

Mothes

Ruiz

Viracucha

et al. 2017

Advances in Volcanology

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“…There have been numerous studies of the evolution of the stratovolcano by : Miller et al (1978), Hall (1987), Hall and Mothes 2007;Hall and von Hillebrandt (1988), Mothes et al 1998;Mothes (1992), which have both described previous eruptive behavior, and likely future forms of activity. In their recent study, Pistolesi et al (2011:2) cross-checked historical accounts with the physical evidence of deposit features to develop a timeline of recent eruptions, asserting that there is strong evidence of eruptions in 1534, 1742, 1744, 1766, 1768, 1803, 1853, 1877, and 1880. In addition, they have located historical accounts of other eruptive events, though without apparent supporting geological evidence in (1757-1758, 1857, 1866, 1885, 1903-1904, 1906, 1912, 1942).…”

Section: Cotopaxi and Lahar Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, they have located historical accounts of other eruptive events, though without apparent supporting geological evidence in (1757-1758, 1857, 1866, 1885, 1903-1904, 1906, 1912, 1942). There is a broad scientific consensus that the volcano is active, with Pistolesi et al (2011) asserting that it remains one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. This history of activity has been represented as a frequency over the past 2,000 years of at least one VEI ≥ 3 eruption every 117 years (Barberi et al 1995;Hall and Mothes 1995).…”

Section: Cotopaxi and Lahar Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fearing the knock on the door: critical security studies insights into limited cooperation with disaster management regimes

2015

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In seeking to provide for the safety of local communities in the global south, there has been an apparent policy focus on making early warning systems more robust, and improving the operation of disaster management programmes. However, the critical security studies literature has highlighted the ways in which security practices, including those nominally implemented on behalf of local communities can have negative impacts on peoples. Human security literature, in particular, highlights the ways in which the state security apparatus, which is often relied upon to notify and enforce evacuations, may often be perceived as a serious risk to communities. At the same time individuals live within complex security situations where daily threats to peoples' lives may outweigh geological hazards. Grounded within critical literature on the social construction of risk (Lupton; Beck, Douglas), the ways in which volcanic risk is calculated, communicated, and enacted upon, will be assessed in relation to the local communities' security dilemmas. Drawing on field work in communities at risk from lahars generated from Cotopaxi in Sangolqui, Ecuador, explores the ways in which competing claims of what constitutes security challenge the operating assumptions in emergency preparedness. In June 2012, 158 primary interviews were undertaken as a part of the EU funded VUELCO project in Ecuador. The findings were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, drawing most heavily on interpretive methodologies to argue that the scientific representation of volcanic hazards, and the resultant disaster management strategies, do not account for local context. Indeed, the majority of interviewees indicated a lack of trust in either scientific expertise or government representatives, on questions of security. By incorporating a broader narrative of security beyond a narrow focus on natural hazards, disaster preparedness and communication plans can be more effective.

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“…However, study of the volcano's stratigraphy tells us that a likely future eruption scenario may be a combination of seismic unrest and initial StrombolianeVulcanian eruptive activity that evolves to subplinain-or plinian-style eruptionsda pattern much like those of historical VEI 3e4 eruptions at Cotopaxi (Hall and Mothes, 2008;Pistolesi et al, 2011). Cotopaxi has not erupted for 137 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lahars at Cotopaxi and Tungurahua Volcanoes, Ecuador

Mothes

Vallance

2015

Volcanic Hazards, Risks and Disasters

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Physical volcanology of the post-twelfth-century activity at Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador: Behavior of an andesitic central volcano

Cited by 48 publications

References 40 publications

Geophysical Footprints of Cotopaxi’s Unrest and Minor Eruptions in 2015: An Opportunity to Test Scientific and Community Preparedness

Geophysical Footprints of Cotopaxi’s Unrest and Minor Eruptions in 2015: An Opportunity to Test Scientific and Community Preparedness

Fearing the knock on the door: critical security studies insights into limited cooperation with disaster management regimes

Lahars at Cotopaxi and Tungurahua Volcanoes, Ecuador

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