Seismic activity remains slightly elevated, but there have not been any signs of surface activity. ...more
During the past week, 6 volcanic quakes were recorded in different sectors of the volcano at depths between 7-16 km and with magnitudes up to 2.1. [less]
There were a total of 14 seismic events associated with rock fracturing processes, of which 12 were characterized by low energy level. The 2 remaining ones were of higher energy level located 20 km northeast of the volcano, at a depth of 10 km, with a maximum magnitude of 1.3 ML on the Richter scale. ...more
Slight deformation, possibly associated with seismic activity, continues to be visible as well. No surface activity nor morphological changes were recorded. [less]
Seismic signal on 17 Oct (SOSO station, INGEOMINAS)
Seismic activity remains elevated. A swarm on 17 Oct contained over 700 small quakes. ...more
During the past week, INGEOMINAS recorded a total of 821 seismic events associated with rock fracturing processes, of which 601 were characterized by low energy level. The 221 remaining high energy level. These events were mainly located in an area between 1 and 2 km north of the volcano, at depths between 2 and 6 km, with local magnitudes between 0.1 and 1.1 degrees on the Richter scale. [less]
There were a total of 100 seismic events, of which 86 were characterized by low energy level. The 14 remaining of higher energy were located mainly in an area between 1 and 2 km north of the volcano, at depths between 2 and 6 km, with local magnitudes between 0.1 and 0.8 degrees on the Richter scale.
Weak unrest continues. 28 seismic events, 23 of them associated with rock fracturing and 5 to fluid dynamics in volcanic conduits were recorded over the past week, mostly being of low energy. ...more
The six events of higher energy level were located mainly in a zone between 1 and 1.5 km north of the volcano, at depths between 2 and 3 km, with local magnitudes between 0.2 and 0.8 degrees on the Richter scale. [less]
There were a total of 23 seismic events associated with fracturing of rock, of which 16 were characterized by low energy level. The remaining, of higher energy level, were located mainly in a zone between 2 and 7 km north of the volcano, at depths between 4 and 9 km with local magnitudes between 0.4 and 1.2 on the Richter scale. ...more
No other significant changes were detected at the volcano. [less]
There were a total of 36 seismic events associated with fracturing of rock, of which 29 were characterized by low energy level. The remaining, higher energy level, were located mainly in an area between 1 and 2 km north of the volcano, at depths between 1 and 6 km and with local magnitudes around 0.1 degrees on the Richter scale. ...more
The network of electronic inclinometers for monitoring deformation showed stable behavior. Monitoring of surface activity at the volcano was done using the webcam installed at the place called Cerro Crespo. When weather conditions allowed, it was possible to capture images of the volcano, in which no morphological changes were evident. [less]
Current seismogram from Sotará (SOSO station, INGEOMINAS)
Seismic unrest continues at Sotará. In the week between 5-11 Sep there were in total 82 events, INGEOMINAS reports. This includes about 50 small quakes of magnitudes between 0.1-1.6 at shallow depths of 1-6 km in an area 1-2 km north of the summit.
Small seismic swarm yesterday (SOSO station, INGEOMINAS)
Seismicity is up and down at Sotará volcano with periods of increased activity and small quake swarms of several hours alternating with quiet intervals.
Weak seismic unrest continues. A number of quakes between magnitudes 0.1-1 were recorded 1-2 km north of the summit in an area at 4-5 km depth. Weak inflation of the NE sector of the volcano continues to be visible.
Current seismic signal (SOSO station) from Sotará (INGEOMINAS)
A total of 71 volcanic quakes were recorded over the past week. Most were very week, but 6 had magnitudes between 0.1 and 1.3 and were located 1-2 km N of the summit at depths between 2-3 km. A possible inflation of the NE sector of the volcano is being detected on tilt meters.
Current seismogram from Sotará (SOSO station, INGEOMINAS)
Seismicity has been on the increase at the volcano. Over the past 7 days, INGEOMINAS registered 151 volcano-tectonic quakes, out of which 15 were of significant size (magnitudes 0-1) and located at shallow depth between 2 and 6 km in an area 0.1-5 km NE from the the summit. Visual observations show no signs of surface activity.
Location of the larrger recent earthquakes under Sotarà
The summit of Sotarà volcano on an INGEOMINAS photo from Oct 2011
The recent increase in seismic activity under Sotarà volcano promted INGEOMINAS to raise the alert level from yellow (unrest) to orange (eruption warning) yesterday afternoon. ...more
The increase had been detected on June 24, 2012 and since that date, 6891 earthquakes have been recorded, i.e. an average of 150 quakes per day. Most of them (5177) are of very small magnitude, but the remaining 1714 quakes were of significant energy (local magnitudes 0.1-2.2) and concentrated in an area between 0.1 and 5 km northeast of the volcanic summit at depths between 2 and 6 km. None of these events were felt by inhabitants of the communities surrounding the volcano Sotará. [less]
Sotará volcano, also known as Cerro Azafatudo, is a little-known andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano located about 25 km SSE of Popayán city in SW Colombia.
The volcano has three overlapping calderas, 4.5, 2.5, and 1 km in diameter, creating the irregular shape of the volcano. It has not erupted in historic times, but is considered active. At present, there is solfataric and fumarolic activity.
