Major eruption on Mount Tungurahua.

Mount Tungurahua, a stratovolcano (a 'conventional' cone-shaped volcano, the sort you see in Hollywood movies) located in the Sangay National Park in Ecuador, overlooking the town of Baños de Agua Santa, erupted suddenly at about 6.10 pm local time (about 11.10 pm GMT) on Friday 4 April 2014, producing a column of ash rising 10 km above the summit of the volcano. The initial eruption was followed by a number of smaller eruptions and earthquakes.

The ash column over Mount Tungurahua on Friday 4 April 2014. Carlos Campana/Reuters.

Tungurahua has been intermittently active since 1999 (prior to which it had been inactive for about 75 years), with major eruptions in August 2006, February 2008, May 2010, December 2010 and April 2011. The 2006 eruption killed seven people; two volcanologists and a local family

The current Tungurahua volcano is the third on the site, referred to by volcanologists as Tungurahua III. The first volcano on the site, Tungurahua I, built up and then collapsed some time in the Mid-Pleistocene. This was followed by Tungurahua II, which started to grow about 14 000 years ago, then collapsed about 3000 years ago. The current volcano has been growning since this time, and lies within the caldera of Tungurahua II.

  

The approximate location of Mount Tungurahua. Google Maps.

Like all South American volcanoes Tungurahua owes its existence to the subduction of the Nazca Plate (which underlies the southeast Pacific) beneath South America. The Nazca Plate is being pushed from the east and forced down into the Earth's interior beneath South America. As it sinks rocks in the crust melt, and the lighter portions of it rise up through the overlying South American Plate to form volcanoes at the surface. These are dotted throughout the Andes Mountains; a range of mountains that is formed by a mixture of volcanism and crumpling of the South American Plate where is is forced against the Nazca Plate.

The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. Marot et al. (2012).

See also...

 Further eruptions on Mount Tungurahua.






200 people evacuated after eruption on Tungurahua.





New eruptions on Mount Tungurahua, Ecuador. November 2011.

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Further eruptions on Mount Tungurahua.

Mount Tungurahua, a stratovolcano (a 'conventional' cone-shaped volcano, the sort you see in Hollywood movies) located in the Sangay National Park in Ecuador, overlooking the town of Baños de Agua Santa which has been intermittently active since 1999 (prior to which it had been inactive for about 75 years), with major eruptions in August 2006, February 2008, May 2010, December 2010 and April 2011, increased its activity sharply in mid July, leading to the evacuation of 200 people from its immediate vicinity after an eruption on 14 July that produced a 5 km high ash column. On 16-17 July the summit of the volcano was obscured by cloud, but several large explosions were heard and blocks of incandescent rock observed raining down the mountain's flanks. On 18-19 the summit was visible, and observers witnessed a number of small eruptions, throwing additional material down the flanks. Throughout this time seismic activity remained high, with a dozens of small tremors and several sustained Earthquakes each day. On 19 July another ash column was produced, this time rising 1 km above the summit and drifting to the southwest; ashfalls were reported in Choglontus and El Manzano, both to the southwest of the volcano. 

Incandescent material being ejected from the crater of Tungaruhua on 19 July 2013. Fuente Ramón/Observatorio del Volcán Tungurahua/Instituto Geofisico de la Escuela Politecnica Nacional.

20 July saw a further escalation in activity on Tungurahua, with 127 sustained Earthquakes, 71 smaller tremors and 43 explosions heard. On 21 July there were 220 Earthquakes and three major explosions, accompanied by blocks being thrown from the crater onto the flanks of the volcano. A 5 km high column of ash was produced, and settlements to the southwest and northwest reported ashfalls. The eruptive activity continued overnight into 22 July, with material being thrown down the flanks of the mountain and explosions shaking structures close by. Activity decreased over 22-23 July, with smaller columns of ash reaching 1-1.5 km and drifting to the west and 22-40 Earthquakes per day.

On 24 July the summit of the mountain was again obscured by cloud, but an ash column rising 5 km and drifting to the west could be seen, and ashfalls were reported in settlements up to 25 km away. Ashfalls continued through 25 July, with another explosive eruption producing another column, this time 1.5 km high, in the evening. Further eruptions were seen on 26-27 July, along with minor ashfalls and explosions that rattled windows 8 km away. On the morning of 28 July a number of smaller explosions heard, and a pyroclastic flow (avalanche of hot ash and rocks) seen on the northern flank of the volcano. Ashfalls were reported in Tisaleo, 29 km to the northwest. Explosions continued into 29 July, when a 2 km ash column was observed.

An ash column over Tungurahua on 28 July 2013. Correo del Orinoco.

The current Tungurahua volcano is the third on the site, referred to by volcanologists as Tungurahua III. The first volcano on the site, Tungurahua I, built up and then collapsed some time in the Mid-Pleistocene. This was followed by Tungurahua II, which started to grow about 14 000 years ago, then collapsed about 3000 years ago. The current volcano has been growning since this time, and lies within the caldera of Tungurahua II.

The approximate location of Mount Tungurahua. Google Maps.

Like all South American volcanoes Tungurahua owes its existence to the subduction of the Nazca Plate (which underlies the southeast Pacific) beneath South America. The Nazca Plate is being pushed from the east and forced down into the Earth's interior beneath South America. As it sinks rocks in the crust melt, and the lighter portions of it rise up through the overlying South American Plate to form volcanoes at the surface. These are dotted throughout the Andes Mountains; a range of mountains that is formed by a mixture of volcanism and crumpling of the South American Plate where is is forced against the Nazca Plate.

The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. Marot et al. (2012).

See also 200 people evacuated after eruption on Tungurahua, Canadian tourist killed by falling ice on Ecuadorean volcano and New eruptions on Mount Tungurahua, Ecuador. November 2011.

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200 people evacuated after eruption on Tungurahua.

Around 200 people have been evacuated from the vicinity of Tungurahua Volcano in Ecuador, following an explosive eruption that took place slightly after 6.45 am local time (11.45 am GMT) on Sunday 14 July 2013, throwing up an ash column that reached an altitude of 5 km. The explosion was felt as far away as the Pacific coast, but there are no reports of any casualties related to the event.

View of the ash column over Tungurahua from Quito, 135 km to the northwest. Vicente Costales/El Comercio.

Mount Tungurahua is a stratovolcano (a 'conventional' cone-shaped volcano, the sort you see in Hollywood movies) located in the Sangay National Park in Ecuador, overlooking the town of Baños de Agua Santa. The town's major industry is tourism, attracting visitors to visit the volcano, the hot springs associated with the volcano, and the Amazon Rainforest.

Tungurahua has been intermittently active since 1999 (prior to which it had been inactive for about 75 years), with major eruptions in August 2006, February 2008, May 2010, December 2010 and April 2011. The 2006 eruption killed seven people; two volcanologists and a local family.

The location of the Tungurahua Volcano. Google Maps.

The current Tungurahua volcano is the third on the site, referred to by volcanologists as Tungurahua III. The first volcano on the site, Tungurahua I, built up and then collapsed some time in the Mid-Pleistocene. This was followed by Tungurahua II, which started to grow about 14 000 years ago, then collapsed about 3000 years ago. The current volcano has been growning since this time, and lies within the caldera of Tungurahua II.

Like all South American volcanoes Tungurahua owes its existence to the subduction of the Nazca Plate (which underlies the southeast Pacific) beneath South America. The Nazca Plate is being pushed from the east and forced down into the Earth's interior beneath South America. As it sinks rocks in the crust melt, and the lighter portions of it rise up through the overlying South American Plate to form volcanoes at the surface. These are dotted throughout the Andes Mountains; a range of mountains that is formed by a mixture of volcanism and crumpling of the South American Plate where is is forced against the Nazca Plate.

See also Eruptive activity on Mount Sabancaya, Eruption on Mount Copahue, Eruption on Volcán El Reventador, Seismic activity beneath Mount Sotará, Columbia and Seismic activity on Mount Cumbal, Colombia.

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New eruptions on Mount Tungurahua, Ecuador. November 2011.

Mount Tungurahua is a stratovolcano (a 'conventional' cone-shaped volcano, the sort you see in Hollywood movies) located in the Sangay National Park in Ecuador, overlooking the town of Baños de Agua Santa. The town's major industry is tourism, attracting visitors to visit the volcano, the hot springs associated with the volcano, and the Amazon Rainforest.

Tungurahua has been intermittently active since 1999 (prior to which it had been inactive for about 75 years), with major eruptions in August 2006, February 2008, May 2010, December 2010 and April 2011. The 2006 eruption killed seven people; two volcanologists and a local family.

The August 2006 eruption on Mount Tungurahua.

On 27 November 2011 a number of earthquakes were felt in the area, followed by pyroclastic flows (flows of heavy superheated gas containing large amounts of hot ash, rocks and debris) were observed on the northern and northwestern flanks of the volcano. Later in the afternoon a series of explosions were heard near the summit of the volcano, and pyroclastic flows were observed on the southern and southwestern flanks. The following day there were further explosions, and pyroclastic flows on the south flank. A plume of ash and hot gas rose 3 km above the volcano, several local towns reported ash-falls, and nearby villages were evacuated with the help of the National Secretariat for Risk Management.

By the beginning of December the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador reported that the amount of gas being produced by the volcano had dropped dramatically, with no further pyroclastic flows. The volcano is still undergoing frequent earthquakes, but these do not necessarily imply an eruption is immanent. The situation is being monitored by the Tungurahua Volcanological Observatory in Guadelupe, 14 km to the north.

The current Tungurahua volcano is the third on the site, referred to by volcanologists as Tungurahua III. The first volcano on the site, Tungurahua I, built up and then collapsed some time in the Mid-Pleistocene. This was followed by Tungurahua II, which started to grow about 14 000 years ago, then collapsed about 3000 years ago. The current volcano has been growning since this time, and lies within the caldera of Tungurahua II.

Like all South American volcanoes Tungurahua owes its existence to the subduction of the Nazca Plate (which underlies the southeast Pacific) beneath South America. The Nazca Plate is being pushed from the east and forced down into the Earth's interior beneath South America. As it sinks rocks in the crust melt, and the lighter portions of it rise up through the overlying South American Plate to form volcanoes at the surface. These are dotted throughout the Andes Mountains; a range of mountains that is formed by a mixture of volcanism and crumpling of the South American Plate where is is forced against the Nazca Plate.

The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath South America creates the Andes Mountains.

See also Earthquake in Jujuy Province, The Puyehue Eruption, The Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex and Volcanoes on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.

The Open University run a course in Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis by distance learning. This can be counted towards a degree, but does not need to be taken as part of a degree course. The course costs £170 for UK residents and £405 for overseas residents, though financial support may be available for UK and European residents.