Guagua Pichincha volcano, Ecuador: news & activity updates

Wed, 30 Apr 2003, 06:00 This week Guagua Pichincha was marked by low-to-modest seismicity, which included earthquakes on 30 April and 1 May with magnitudes less than 3. Both had epicenters within an earthquake swarm N of Quito. Episodes of harmonic tremor appeared, most noteworthy on 4 and 5 May with each episode lasting under 40 minutes. Read all Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 06:00During the week Guagua Pichincha continued to display seismic unrest, typically with several earthquakes per day but including 16 long-period earthquakes on 26 April. During 23, 24, 26, and 27 April observers on the mountain typically smelled sulfur, but qualitative assessments of fumarolic output varied. In conditions of poor visibility, observers sometimes heard the sound of gases escaping in the crater. Read all Wed, 16 Apr 2003, 06:00 The IG indicated that they detected seismic signals from a very minor Guagua Pichincha eruption on 17 April. The volcanologist on duty saw no visual signs of ash, implying that the seismic signals resulted from a very weak eruption with products confined to the summit crater. The IG also noted seeing similar seismic signals sporadically over the previous few days. Read all