CotoPaxi Volcano - Ecuador seismic status

[Bob]

Lahar activity on the western face of the volcano had been observed for a sustained event on the 13 of about an hour. (lahars generally consist of mudslide, water, rocks and ash contributions)

Current seismic activity and eruption have diminished substantially and the event appears to have subsided.

Spikey activity is still happening an indication the volcano is not asleep, but in a "calm-mode". There is still evidence of slow-wave activity indicative of magma movement within.

Tungurahua volcano to the south near Banos continues to show brief spikey activity and an occasional large explosion, and is not fully 'asleep' either.

[Bob]

The last couple days (and nights) have had a few large long duration seismic quakes recorded on the volcano's (CotoPaxi and Tungurahua) seismographs.

Today, CotoPaxi's seismometer network recorded a series of pre-eruption events, consisting of slow-wave, spike events, some large explosions, and smaller explosions, with regular periods of "event activity".. these indications could be a precursor to a larger sustained event like the previous eruption cycle.

Note the large long and strong explosive event at about 1920 local

[Bob]

The seismographs over the last week have been picking up strong regional earthquakes, and the CotoPaxi volcano's underground magma pipes and chambers appear to be reacting

Top graphic CotoPaxi from last nite, bottom graphic from the Tungurahua volcano.

Solar - NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance of minor geomagnetic storms on Jan. 25th as Earth passes through a stream of solar wind flowing from a coronal hole on the sun. That could be the reason for the regional earthquake activity.

Note the seismic earthquake event at about 0330 am local time on both graphics. At about 0630am local time an increase of magma activity, low frequency slow-wave, and spikey activity picked up on CotoPaxi.

[Bob]

Earthquake activity continues - Either another local seismic event in Ecuador, or a regional earthquake again picked up by the seismographs on both volcanos (CotoPaxi top, Tungurahua bottom) (apx 1735 local time)

A minor earthquake event also shows up at about 1233 pm local time on both volcano's seismographic recorders.

[Bob]

Despite very strong regional seismic activity (earthquakes) recorded on the two volcano's CotoPaxi and Tungurahua - both volcano's magma channels appear to be addressing the shifting and stabilizing rapidly. That is a good sign. I wonder where tho the volcanic activity is relieving?

Tungurahua bottom graphic.

[Bob]

With Tungurahua decreasing in output, the magma channel has moved to a different direction, and I've been watching the other volcanoes to see where..

CotoPaxi volcano has shown periods of higher eruptive activity, waxing and waning, however brief pulses continued. In the early morning hours a brief eruption happened :

[Bob]

For the last day volcano CotoPaxi has calmed down, and eruptive activity is shown nil, with rock fracturing and a slight tremor now and then.. As the unpredictable nature of these volcanoes precludes any statement that the eruption period is highly diminished, or even 'calm', we should watch this volcano for increase in activity.

[Bob]

The strong periods of sustained seismicity have been appearing over the last few days.. could be a precursor to an eruption event. Within the next day or so earth's geomagnetic field will be subjected to a solar particle influx leading quite possibly to a 'storm', and subsequent dissipation of the energy (earthquakes or volcano eruptions)..

[Bob]

Small sustained eruption with the volcano. The precursor pattern pointed out apparently gave an indication. The large seismic explosion after 0900 marked the start.

[Bob]

The pattern of eruptive activity is matching. Starting with a seismic event and within 2 hours the eruption..

Seismic slow-wave activity is present, which could indicate a larger eruption is possible. Events from Japan were seen in the seismographs yesterday as well, followed by increased seismic activity with the CotoPaxi volcano. The oscillation within the Ring of Fire (from Indonesia in the west to Chile) apparently has been happening from the Japanese events. It is unknown if these are contributing to the Ecuadorian seismic events (and eruption). There have been solar events in the last few days (particle storms from the Coronal holes).

[Bob]

Close to 0800 am this morning a large seismic event appeared, about two 1/2 hours later (as before) periods of low level sustained seismic activity started to appear. Slow wave components were very present and potentially show an eruption event could happen while magma pressure is diverted from the main tubes. Keeping an eye on this -

[Bob]

One can see the large quake on the Cotopaxi volcano's seismographic (bottom of chart).. I mentioned earlier the strong slow wave, which can be an indicator of more activity is pending, as it was.. (see the graphic in the previous message) - about 8 hours advanced warning started showing up.

The rocking and rolling has gone on for at least an hour:

CotoPaxi

Tungurahua (both volcano's seismographs indicated the strong shock event)

This could trigger eruptive events, and/or change magma flows. As I said above, keep an eye on this..

[Bob]

Today's activity - the main shaking is calming down (top of graphic), followed by regular slow wave periods of seismic activity. Such "rolling" can proceed an event (eruption, earthquake or aftershock). Don't be volcano 'mountain climbing' with these events showing up..

[Bob]

Looks like a small eruption was triggered by the big earthquake. The volcano's seismographs were showing spikey activity plus slow wave.. (slow-wave oscillation started about 10:30 am local time.. the eruption started about 1530 pm local)

As of this post, the eruption was continuing..

[Bob]

Eruptive activity stopped by about 0900 am local time. One can see within the eruption and at the end of the 1200 local time line (see the blue pulse) all the after shocks. That last aftershock lasted 3 minutes..

[Bob]

(See the seismic graphic above).. After the post above and into the late afternoon, there were 6 major aftershocks, followed a strong period of slow-wave oscillation and then the eruption started up once again..

Looking at the second seismographic (below), one can see increased slow wave bursts, and then there were 3 more hours of eruption activity..

[Bob]

Eruption activity continued through the nite.. Seen within the eruption signature were aftershocks pulses.

The Tungurahua volcano seismograph points out the aftershocks clearly.


4 minutes in duration and the longest being 8 minutes in duration. (see below)

It's possible the large prime event quake from the other day 'jump started' CotoPaxi into new periods of eruption.. Monitoring these volcano's over the last few months, certain activity was noted, which has been previously seen prior to a major seismic event, i.e. 'earthquake'..

During this episode CotoPaxi has been experiencing strong aftershocks, and within 2-3 hours of the seismic pulses, starts to erupt.

[Bob]

CotoPaxi continues to apparently respond to the aftershocks..

After 0810 am Local time, the eruptive period which was going on since 2030 pm 19 April stopped. During the interlude there were 4 major aftershock events, and during the last two, slow-wave activity started (indicating an eruption may be in the offing).

Right after that last aftershock, the eruption started up again..

As the intensity of the aftershocks are so great, and Tungurahua volcano currently is not erupting, one can cross-correlate the seismic aftershocks with that volcano's seismographs and match timing:

[Bob]

Today's aftershocks - top graphic CotoPaxi, bottom Tungurahua (Eruption period was strong during the night, stopping shortly before 0900 am local)

[Bob]

Seismic pattern showed eruptive activity at about 1600 and continued throughout the night once again -

Tungurahua's seismic events showed a 6 minute period of slow-wave activity following a large aftershock starting around 2030 pm local time.