Tungurahua
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| Tungurahua | |
|---|---|
 From North (Nov. 2004) |
|
| Elevation | 5,023 metres (16,979 feet) [1] |
| Location | Ecuador |
| Range | Andes |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | IGM, CT-ÑIV-D1 [1] |
| Type | Stratovolcano (active) |
| Age of rock | Holocene (Gomez 1994) |
| Last eruption | 2006 (continuing) |
| First ascent | 1873 by Alphons Stübel and Wilhelm Reiss |
| Easiest route | Scrambling/Snow/Ice PD |
Tungurahua, (IPA: [tʊŋɡʊɹɑʊɑ]),(Quichua tunguri (throat), rahua (fire): "Throat of Fire"[citation needed] ) is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Central of Ecuador. The volcano gives name to the province of Tungurahua. Volcanic activity started in 1999 and is ongoing as of 2006 with a major eruption on August 16.
Contents |
[edit] Geography & Geology
[edit] Location
Tungurahua (5,023 m) is located in the Cordillera Central of the Andes of central Ecuador, 140 km (87 miles) south of the capital Quito. Nearby notable mountains are the Chimborazo (6,267 m) and El Altar (5,319 m). It rises above the small thermal springs town Baños (1,800 m) which is located at its foot 5 km to the north. Other nearby towns are Ambato (30 km to the northwest) and Riobamba (30 km to the southwest). Tungurahua is part of the Sangay National Park.
[edit] Glacier
With its elevation of 5,023 m Tungurahua just over tops the snow line (about 4,900 m). Tungurahua's top is snow covered and did feature a small summit glacier which melted away after the increase of volcanic activity in 1999.
[edit] Volcanism
Today's volcanic edifice (Tungurahua III) is constructed inside its predecessor's (Tungurahua II) caldera which collapsed about 3000 (±90) years ago. The original edifice (Tungurahua I) collapsed at the end of the late Pleistocene. (IG-EPN n.d., [2])
[edit] Historical volcanic activity
Tungurahua's eruptions are strombolian. All historical eruptions originated from the summit crater and have been accompanied by strong explosions, pyroclastic flows and sometimes lava flows. In the last 1300 years Tungurahua entered every 80 to 100 years into an activity phase of which the major have been the ones of 1773, 1886 and 1916-1918. (IG-EPN 1999, [3])
[edit] Recent volcanic activity
In 1999, after a long period of rest, the volcano started an eruptive process that continues to this day. After the first eruptions in October 1999 which produced a major ash out-fall and led to the temporary evacuation of more than 25,000 inhabitants of Baños and its surroundings (El Comercio 1999), the activity continued on a medium level until in May 2006 the activity increased dramatically culminating in violent eruptions on July 14 and August 16. The August 16 eruption has been the most violent since the beginning of activity in 1999, accompanied by a 10km high ash cloud which later spread over an area of 740 by 180 km (IG-EPN 2006, [4]) and pyroclastic flows resulting in 5 deaths and destroying several hamlets and roads on the western and northwestern slopes of Tungurahua (El Comercio 2006).
[edit] Current volcanic activity news
On the morning of August 16, at around 8:25 a.m., a huge explosion signaled the start of what appears to be the main event of this eruptive episode. An 8-km ash column arose from the crater. (La Hora 2006 [5]) The volcano also spewed about eight million tons of ashes-reports put the ash mushroom magnitude at 742 km by 185.6 km-and hot rocks. (La Hora 2006 [6]) The developing eruption was characterized by a continuous source of lava located at about 1 km above the crater, gas and ashes columns estimated at 13 to 14 km, and pyroclastic flows.
Incandescent rock blocks have been regularly falling into the flanks of the volcano. Localities within the reach of the eruption have reported a rain of ashes and rocks the size of golf balls.(El Heraldo 2006 [7]) Most counties of Tungurahua, including Ambato, Pelileo, Baños, and Chimborazo, including Riobamba and Penipe were covered with these materials overnight. It is estimated that some 237 km² (92 miles2) of crops have been destroyed. Another 970 km² (375 miles2) have been damaged. (El Comercio 2006 [8]) At least 850 farm animals have been reported dead, including cows, sheep and goats. Also destroyed were poultry farms - one operation lost 50,000 hens in Pelileo (El Heraldo 2006 [9])- and fish farms. Some 40,000 bovines are estimated at risk because of the ash fall and lack of food.(El Comercio 2006 [10]) Farmers' organizations have estimated the losses at around US$150 million. (El Universo 2006 [11])
It is estimated that more than one million people have been affected by the eruptive process in the Provinces of Tungurahua, Bolivar and Chimborazo. (Hoy 2006 [12]) Hamlets like Anabe, Bilbao, Manzano, Palitahua, Punllupala, Yuibug, Choglantus, in Chimborazo, and Juive in Tungurahua, located directly in the path of the lava, were evacuated on time, but their buildings have been destroyed. An estimated 4,000 people have been displaced. It is reported that these villages will be permanently relocated to land paid for by the Ecuadorian government. (El Comercio 2006 [13])
However, in general government aid has been little despite large promises. At times the government has claimed that "the bank was closed" when explaining the lack of support, and at other times it has simply said that it has assigned the money without specifying the use of that money. This, despite the fact that the effects of the eruptive process are largely predictable, though the exact dates and magnitude of the explosions are not. In the days prior to the explosions on August 16th, Segundo Ruiz, the president of the community of Bilbao, one of the most affected communities, complained of the lack of a decent offer for where to relocate the community and indeed spoke of moving the community out of the church it has occupied for the last month and returning to their homes. Since then that idea has been discarded, but the support for the people who live in the affected areas from the government is minimal for the farmers of the region, forcing the people living there to depend on the help provided by non-profit and other private organizations. (Gabriel Many 2006 [14])
At least seven persons have died, reduced to ash in the course of the eruption or later, due to their injuries. (El Universo 2006 [15]) Twelve people were reported injured and more than thirty continue missing as of the 21st. The towns of Chacauco, Puela, El Altar and Cotalo have been damaged by ashes and incandescent rocks. It has been confirmed that drinking water supplies are contaminated in the counties of Quero and Guano. Other areas may also be afected. (Hoy 2006 [16])
In the morning of the 17th, vehicle transit was officially suspended in Ambato, and the population was requested to remain indoors. Such request was still mantained as of the 18th.(El Heraldo 2006 [17]) City, inter-city and inter-provincial bus transit were suspended for some days but has been restarted as of the 22nd. The Agoyan hydroelectric plant has been shut down. The Quito-Ambato gas pipeline has been shut down as of the morning of the 19th. (La Hora 2006 [18]) The Chambo River and the Puela River were blocked, and their waters have collected behind temporary dams. The Ecuadorian Army was studying how to breach the dam so as to avoid a catastrophic release of water. In the morning of the 18th, the waters of both rivers started to be released. (La Hora 2006 [19]) Seven bridges have been reported destroyed in the Province of Chiborazo. (El Universo 2006 [20])
In the afternoon of August 17, the Ecuador President Alfredo Palacio, declared the Provinces of Chimborazo and Tungurahua disaster zones. The morning of the 18th the disaster zone was extended to the Provice of Bolivar.(La Hora 2006 [21]) The government has also officially asked, through its Foreign Affairs Ministry, for international help in dealing with the consequences of the eruption. (Hoy 2006 [22])
The ash has also reached the provinces of Cotopaxi, Guayas, Manabí, Bolívar, and Los Ríos. In Los Rios it is reported that banana plantations have been heavily damaged. The airports of Latacunga, Riobamba and Guayaquil initially stopped operations because of the danger posed by the ash, but they have reopened with irregular schedules as of the 19th.
It is reported that at least US $300,000 in volcano monitoring tools, including seismometers, pluviometers and lahar warning system stations, have been lost in the eruption. Because of this, the occidental flank of Tungurahua is at the moment outside the reach of vulcanologists direct surveillance.(El Comercio 2006 [23])
On August 18, Hugo Yepes, director of the Geophysical Department of the Ecuadorian National Polytechnic Institute, advised the population and tourists to remain far from the volcano, as the crater continued to be full of lava and expanding. (Hoy 2006 [24]) As of the afternoon of the 22nd, it was confirmed that Tungurahua had a continuous release of vapor and vulcanologist were concerned that another eruptive event could be in the works. (El Comercio 2006 [25])
On August 22, José Miguel Insulza Salinas the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, requested the international community to provide with prompt help for the victims of Tungurahua's eruption. (Univision 2006 [26])
[edit] History
[edit] Etymology
After one theory the name Tungurahua is a combination of the Quichua tunguri (throat) and rahua (fire) meaning "Throat of Fire"[citation needed]. After another theory it is based on the Quichua uraua for crater (Schmudlach 2001). Tungurahua is also known as "The Black Giant" and, in local indigenous mythology it is referred to as Mama Tungurahua ("Mother Tungurahua").
[edit] First ascent
During their 7 year long South America expedition (1868 to 1876) the two German volcanologists Alphons Stübel and Wilhelm Reiss climbed Cotopaxi (Reiss with Angel Escobar, 28. Nov. 1872) and Tungurahua (Stübel with Eusebio Rodruguez, 9. Feb. 1873) (Schmudlach 2001).
[edit] Climbing
Climbing[2] Tungurahua is a grade PD scrambling ascent with some snow towards the summit.
- Tungurahua can be climbed year round with best seasons being December-January and July-August.
- A good height acclimatization is highly recommended for this climb.
- The mountain is contained on the IGM (Instituto Geografico Militar) 1:50000 Map Baños(CT-ÑIV-D1) (IGM 1989, [27]).
[edit] Routes
The normal route starts from the Refugio at 3,800 m, scrambling towards the crater ridge, continues then inside of the eastern crater ridge via a short glacier walk to the summit ridge and the summit (4 to 6 hours). On an alternative route the summit can also be reached from the south via a camping spot at Laguna Patococha (3,730 m) via Cima M
![[1]](http://www.igm.gov.ec/productos/cartabase/enie/imagenes/ENIEIV_D1_ALTA.jpg){kind=link}