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Pichincha Volcano

Guagua Pichincha

Stratovolcano · Ecuador · 4784m

An aerial view from the east shows the Pichincha volcanic complex, one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, rising immediately above the capital city of Quito. Guagua Pichincha (left) and the sharp-topped Pleistocene Rucu Pichincha stratovolcano (right) form a broad volcanic massif overlooking Ecuador's largest city. The largest historical eruption from Guagua Pichincha took place in 1660 CE, when ash fell over a 1000 km radius, accumulating to 30 cm depth in Quito.
An aerial view from the east shows the Pichincha volcanic complex, one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, rising immediately above the capital city of Quito. Guagua Pichincha (left) and the sharp-topped Pleistocene Rucu Pichincha stratovolcano (right) form a broad volcanic massif overlooking Ecuador's largest city. The largest historical eruption from Guagua Pichincha took place in 1660 CE, when ash fell over a 1000 km radius, accumulating to 30 cm depth in Quito. · Photo: Photo by Patricio Ramon, 2004 (Instituto Geofisca, Escuela Politecnica Nacional). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Ecuador
Region
South America Volcanic Regions / Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
4784m
Coordinates
-0.171, -78.598
Last eruption
2002
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

Guagua Pichincha and the older Pleistocene Rucu Pichincha stratovolcanoes form a broad volcanic massif that rises immediately W of Ecuador's capital city, Quito. A lava dome grew at the head of a 6-km-wide scarp formed during a late-Pleistocene slope failure ~50,000 years ago. Subsequent late-Pleistocene and Holocene eruptions from the central vent consisted of explosive activity with pyroclastic flows accompanied by periodic growth and destruction of the lava dome. Many minor eruptions have been recorded since the mid-1500's; the largest took place in 1660, when ash fell over a 1,000 km radius and accumulated to 30 cm depth in Quito. Pyroclastic flows and surges also occurred, primarily to then W, and affected agricultural activity.

From Wikipedia

Pichincha is a stratovolcano in Ecuador. The capital Quito wraps around its eastern slopes.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
7000 BCE~6700 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?6700 BCE~6399 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?6399 BCE~6099 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?4898 BCE~4598 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3697 BCE~3396 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?2195 BCE~1895 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1895 BCE~1595 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1294 BCE~994 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?93 BCE~207 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 4508~808 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?808~1108 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 51408~1709 · 12 eruptions · max VEI 41709~2009 · 19 eruptions · max VEI 37000 BCE4898 BCE2495 BCE393 BCE1709

Detailed timeline

  1. 2009VEI 1Geological estimate
    2009-02-16 – 2009-02-17
  2. 2008VEI 1Geological estimate
    2008-02-01 – 2008-02-01
  3. 2003VEI 1Geological estimate
    2003-04-17 – 2003-04-17
  4. 2002VEI 1Observed
    2002-04-16 – 2002-04-16
  5. 2002VEI 1Observed
    2002-10-11 – 2002-12-07
  6. 2001VEI 1Observed
    2001-11-26 – 2001-11-26
    North of 1981 crater
  7. 1998VEI 3Observed
    1998-08-07 – 2001-05-25
    West and SE of 1981 crater
  8. 1997VEI 1Observed
    1997-03-16 – 1997-10-18
    1981 crater
  9. 1993VEI 1Observed
    1993-03-09 – 1993-03-12
    1981 crater
  10. 1990VEI 1Observed
    1990-04-16 – 1990-05-10
    1981 crater
  11. 1985VEI 1Observed
    1985-05-16 – 1985-06-16
    1981 crater
  12. 1981VEI 1Observed
    1981-08-31 – 1982-11-16
    NE side of 1660 lava dome
  13. 1881VEI 2Observed
    1881-03-10 – Ongoing
  14. 1869VEI 2Observed
    1869-03 – Ongoing
  15. 1869VEI 2Observed
    1869-07-22 – 1869-08-24
  16. 1868VEI 2Observed
    1868-03-19 – 1868-03-22
  17. 1868VEI 2Observed
    1868-08 – Ongoing
  18. 1831VEI 3Observed
    1831 – Ongoing
  19. 1830VEI 2Observed
    1830 – Ongoing
  20. 1660VEI 4Observed
    1660-10-27 – 1660-11-28
  21. 1582VEI 3Observed
    1582-06-05 – 1598
  22. 1580VEI 2Geological estimate
    1580 – Ongoing
  23. 1577VEI 2Geological estimate
    1577 – Ongoing
  24. 1575VEI 2Observed
    1575-09-08 – Ongoing
  25. 1566VEI 3Observed
    1566-10-17 – 1566-11-16
  26. 1560VEI 2Geological estimate
    1560 – Ongoing
  27. 1539VEI 2Geological estimate
    1539 – Ongoing
  28. 1538VEI 3Geological estimate
    1538 – Ongoing
  29. 1535VEI 2Geological estimate
    1535 – Ongoing
  30. 1534VEI 2Geological estimate
    1534 – Ongoing
  31. 1533VEI 2Geological estimate
    1533 – Ongoing
  32. 930 (±100 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    930 – Ongoing
  33. 550 (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    550 – Ongoing
  34. 70 (±75 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    70 – Ongoing
  35. 1230 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1230 – Ongoing
  36. 1860 BCE (±100 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1860 – Ongoing
  37. 2090 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2090 – Ongoing
  38. 3500 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3500 – Ongoing
  39. 4850 BCE (±1350 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 4850 – Ongoing
  40. 6200 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6200 – Ongoing
  41. 6300 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6300 – Ongoing
  42. 6400 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6400 – Ongoing
  43. 6650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6650 – Ongoing
  44. 7000 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 7000 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.