informe del estado actual del volcán guagua pichincha

INSTITUTO GEOFISICO
ESCUELA POLITECNICA NACIONAL
To Whom May Concern
07 October, 2015
I write this letter with respect to the location of the Hacienda La Ciénega located on the
outskirts of Tanicuchí town in Cotopaxi Province - Ecuador. Cotopaxi volcano, a majestic
active stratocone, recently showing unrest and mild eruptive activity, is located 25 km NE of
La Ciénega Hacienda. There are no historical chronicles testifying that the volcanic activity
gravely affected the hacienda house, except for ashfalls following important eruptive activity.
In spite of the nearness of the volcano and the mentioned hacienda house, there is no geologic
evidence that the property or its buildings are in a position to be affected by volcanic
mudflows (lahars) or hot pyroclastic flows originating during Cotopaxi´s major eruptions,
should they occur.
If these flows, especially the lahars, were to occur, they would be
constrained in the Rio Cutuchi channel, which is about 2 km east of the hacienda house.
Access to the hacienda is principally from the PanAmerican highway, which is also not in a
position of hazard up to this point for routes coming in from the north.
As a practicing volcanologist I have worked extensively in the area for more than 25 years and
give my word that the main volcanic product that may affect the hacienda, should the volcano
erupt in a major way, are ash and pumice falls, which generally don´t exceed 5-10 cm
thickness in this area. We generally consider ashfall as a manageable hazard that can be dealt
with by using precautions of protection from ingesting dust and also keeping indoors.
Generally ashfalls come on gradually and can be observed in the atmosphere before they
arrive to a locale. The roofs of the Hacienda La Cienega are robust enough to hold up to 10
cm accumulation of ash.
I hope that my letter helps to clarify the relative safety of this beautiful hacienda located in the
middle of the highly productive Latacunga Valley.
Patricia A.
Mothes
Firmado digitalmente por Patricia A.
Mothes
Nombre de reconocimiento (DN):
cn=Patricia A. Mothes, o=EPN,
ou=Instituto Geofisico,
email=pmothes@igepn.edu.ec, c=<n
Fecha: 2015.10.09 10:43:11 -05'00'
Patricia Mothes
Head of Volcanology
Instituto Geofísico
Teléfonos: (2) 2225-655; (2) 222-5627; Fax: (593-2) 256-7847
Página Web: www.igepn.edu.ec; Correo Electrónico: geofisico@igepn.edu.ec
Dirección: Campus Ing. José Rubén Orellana - Calle Ladrón de Guevara E11-253
Apartado Postal 2759 - Quito – Ecuador