Seismic unrest continued through Sep-Oct including occasional swarms of volcanic-tectonic quakes (such as on 10 Oct), but overall earthquake activity has been showing a slowly decreasing trend. The volcano remains to be closely monitored.
Current seismic recording from Sabancaya volcano (BHZ station, IGP)
Seismic activity has picked up. A number of earthquakes in the magnitude 2-3 range have appeared recently.
Fri, 19 Jul 2013, 01:19
Recent earthquakes near Sabancaya volcano
A strong seismic swarm has occurred during the past days under the volcano, culminating in a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on 16 July. The swarm consisted almost entirely of volcanic-tectonic quakes, that relate to rock fracturing due to rapid pressure changes and might be caused by an intrusion of magma. IGP reports that up to 1500 earthquakes were recorded per day.
Read allTue, 11 Jun 2013, 11:33
Seismicity (number of quakes) during the past months (IGP)
Seismic unrest continues. Earthquake numbers have shown a light increase since May, the latest report of IGP from 5 June shows.
Read allMon, 27 May 2013, 06:03
The crater of Sabancaya volcano on 21 May 2013 (IGP)
The volcano has remained quiet, but is still showing signs of unrest. IGP scientists found evidence of eruptive activity (no fresh lava or pyroclastic deposits) inside the crater of of the volcano during a helicopter survey on 21 May. Only steaming and degassing were observed from the crater, that measures about 300-350 m in diameter and is 200 m deep.
Read allThu, 16 May 2013, 09:07
Current seismic recording from Sabancaya volcano (BHZ station, IGP)
Seismic activity has calmed down a bit compared to the previous weeks.
Tue, 14 May 2013, 15:17
Ground deformation (deflation) at Sabancaya volcano measured by InSAR (IGP)
The possible ash emissions on 9 May have not been confirmed, but unrest in the form of increased earthquake activity and ground deformation has increased since early May, the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) reported in its press release on 10 May.
Read allSun, 12 May 2013, 16:35
Possible eruptions have started at the volcano. Pilots reported several volcanic ash plumes from the volcano in the past days although VAAC Buenos Aires could not identify ash on satellite imagery.
Wed, 8 May 2013, 06:00
On 10 May Instituto Geofísico de Perú (IGP) reported that results of an interferogram of Sabancaya provided by a collaborator at Cornell University showed that an area of deformation (subsidence of 7 cm centered at 6 km NE of the crater) was coincident with the main area of seismicity. Volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes continued to dominate the seismic signals, although long-period (LP) events continued to be detected. There was also an increase of hybrid events.
Read allSun, 7 Apr 2013, 06:43
Numbers of earthquakes at Sabancaya over the past weeks (IGP)
Seismic activity has decreased at the volcano, the latest press release of IGP shows. It seems less likely now that the volcano will produce an eruption soon,- as in many cases, an intrusion has happened at depth without (so far) breaching the surface (= erupting).
Seismic signal from Sabancaya (IGP)
Thu, 4 Apr 2013, 17:36
IGP report #8 about Sabancaya (2 April 2013)
Volcanic earthquakes continue at high rate, and there is increased SO2 degassing, as the surface expression of fresh magma intruding at shallow depth.
Read allWed, 3 Apr 2013, 06:00
On 4 April Instituto Geofísico de Perú (IGP) reported that volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes at Sabancaya dominated the seismic signals although long-period (LP) events continued to be detected.
Read allWed, 27 Mar 2013, 06:00
In an Instituto Geofísico de Perú (IGP) report, a photo showed a fumarolic plume rising above Sabancaya on 8 March. During the third week of March, a bluish colored plume rose 500 m above the crater, possibly indicating sulfur dioxide emissions. On 25 March the seismic network detected a continuing high rate of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes and an increasing number of long-period (LP) events.
Read allFri, 15 Mar 2013, 17:42
Peru's Geological Mining and Metallurgical Institute INGEMMET and the Geophysical Institute of the National University of San Agustin Arequipa IGUNSA informed in a press release about the recently increased volcanic activity of Sabancaya:
Read allThu, 14 Mar 2013, 23:09
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred near the volcano (35 km to the east) this morning, another indication that some unrest, probably caused by an intrusion of magma from depth, continues to affect this volcano.
Wed, 13 Mar 2013, 06:00
INGEMMET reported that during 24 February-6 March fumarolic emissions from Sabancaya rose 400-1,000 m above the crater. On 27 February scientists who visited the volcano noted no ash deposits, and observed that the fumarolic emissions were comprised mostly of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. During 28 February-5 March there were 400-500 earthquakes per day recorded, mostly volcano-tectonic events.
Read allTue, 26 Feb 2013, 18:14
A strong seismic swarm and increased fumarolic activity triggered an eruption warning for Sabancaya volcano (Arequipa, Peru) and the Civil Defense of the Regional Government of Arequipa raised the alert level to yellow, which involves implementing actions to prepare for a probable volcanic eruption.
Read allWed, 20 Feb 2013, 06:00
According to news articles, INGEMMET recorded 536 earthquakes from Sabancaya, or about 20 per hour, during 22-23 February. About 80 homes were damaged by the earthquakes, causing some evacuations. A plume rose 100 m; plumes had been intermittently visible since 15 January.
Read all