Log

PHASE 1: Deployment of Seismic and Infrasonic Equipment
June 7 - 14, 2009

Day 1: Students departed from Quito and traveled to Baños, a town situated at the base of Tungurahua Volcano. Upon arriving in Baños, potential sites for instrument deployment were visited while seismic and infrasonic instrumentation was tested. For instrument details see (Seismic-Acoustic Array).

Src: Carolyn Parcheta

Day 2: Began installation of seismic and infrasonic instrumentation in Cusua, a community located on the NWern flanks of Tungurahua volcano. Four one-meter deep holes positioned 100m apart and perpendicular to the vent were excavated for seismic instrumentation. Due to instrument failures, only a single instrument was deployed successfully. Instrumentation and hardware problems were troubleshooted throughout the night.

Src: Modified from Ashley Edelman

Day 3: Deployed an array of six infrasonic instruments across the Pastaza River Valley at a site with direct line-of-sight of the crater (link to Map here). Moments after the instruments were brought online, the volcano let loose an enormous infrasonic blast.

Src: Aida Quezada and Carolyn Parcheta

Day 4: During a tour of the Tungurahua Volcano Observatory, students watched on as explosions were registered on smoke-drum seismograms. Upon arriving at Cusua to finish the installation of seismic and infrasonic equipment, a lahar descended a ravine next to where the instrumentation was to be deployed. Students looked on as the flow front advanced from the upper flanks of the volcano. After the lahar had passed, spirits remained high as students worked in the rain to excavate three additional holes, install instrumentation and download the first of the seismic and infrasonic data.

Src: Dawn Sweeny and Carolyn Parcheta

Day 5: Finished installing seismic-acoustic instrumentation at Cusua.

Day 6: Visited both arrays to download data and troubleshoot instrument problems. Last full day in Baños before Volcanology tour of the Sierra.

Src: Aida Quezada and Carolyn Parcheta

PHASE 2 of course: Physical Volcanology Field Trip Throughout the Ecuadorian Sierra
June 14 - 19, 2009

Day 7: Started journey North on week long tour of Ecuador's volcanic systems. At Quilatoa volcano, located 60 km North of Baños, the group was joined by Patricia Mothes and Pete Hall, volcanologists at the Ecuadorian Geophysical Institute (link). The afternoon was spent looking at pyroclastic flow and surge deposits.

Src: Jeff Johnson

Day 8: Patricia Mothes and Pete Hall engage students in an overview discussion of Cotopaxi volcano. Students ascend the flanks of Cotopaxi volcano to the Refugio at 4800m.

Src: Carolyn Parcheta and Aida Quezada

Day 9: Hike to the crater rim of Guagua Pichincha where group is joined by Claude Robin and Gorki Ruiz for a discussion of the volcanic history of the Pichincha edifice and historical seismic and geodetic measurements.

Src: Ashley Edelman

Day 10: Following a tour of the Geophysical Institute in Quito, Jeff Johnson and Rick Aster gave talks on seismology and infrasound to a broad audience including employees of the Geophysical Institute and students at the Escuela Politecnica Nacional. At midday the group ventures NE to Papallacta thermal hotsprings for a relaxing evening.

Src: Ashley Edelman

Day 11: Visit Pyroclastic flow deposits from the 2002 eruption of Reventador volcano. After swimming at the base of El Malo waterfall, the group spent the night at a hostel situated within Reventador's caldera.

Day 12: Excursion into Reventador caldera.

Src: Jeff Johnson, Carolyn Pancheta and Ashely Edelman

PHASE 3 of course: Pull Instrumentation and Process Data
June 20 - 27, 2009

Day 13: Return to Baños.

Day 14: Pulled 6/7 seismic stations and began to process the seismic and infrasonic data.

Day 15, 16, 17, 18, 19: Days dominated by data processing punctuated by trips to observe active degassing, ash emissions and incandescence.

Src: Jeff Johnson

Day 20: Presentation of final projects in Quito at the Instituto Geofisico.

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