Volcanoes of Ecuador and the Northern Andes: Eruptive Dynamics, Hazards and Societal Impact

The Northern Andes—and Ecuador in particular—host one of the most volcanically active and densely populated volcanic arcs on Earth. With more than 80 Holocene potentially active volcanoes distributed along the Ecuadorian arc and Galapagos Islands, including persistently active systems such as Sangay y Reventador, this region represents an unparalleled natural laboratory for studying the full spectrum of volcanic phenomena. These volcanoes exhibit exceptional diversity in eruptive styles, ranging from prolonged effusive activity and sustained explosive eruptions to paroxysmal sub-Plinian and Plinian events, placing them at the centre of global discussions in physical volcanology and volcanic hazard science.Despite significant advances in monitoring infrastructure, fundamental questions remain regarding the magmatic plumbing systems, eruptive triggers and precursory signals that govern volcanic unrest in the region. At the same time, millions of people live in the shadow of these volcanic systems, and the interactions between volcanic activity, ecosystem dynamics, agricultural land use, water resources and cultural heritage create a complex socio-environmental challenge that requires integrated and multidisciplinary responses.This Research Topic brings together original research, reviews and perspectives that advance our understanding of the volcanoes of Ecuador and the broader Northern Andean volcanic arc, from the deep mantle processes that feed them to the communities that must coexist with them.We invite contributions addressing the following themes:Eruptive Dynamics and Physical Volcanology — Field-based and remote-sensing characterisation of eruptive sequences, eruption-column dynamics, pyroclastic density currents, lava-flow emplacement and syn-eruptive processes at Northern Andean volcanoes.Magmatic Systems and Petrology — Geochemical, petrological and geophysical constraints on magma storage, differentiation, volatile contents and ascent rates, including mush systems and crystal records of pre-eruptive processes.Volcanic Monitoring and Early Warning — Advances in seismic, geodetic, infrasound, gas-flux and thermal monitoring, as well as machine-learning and data-driven approaches to eruption forecasting and alert-level decision-making.Volcanic Hazards and Risk Assessment — Probabilistic hazard modelling of tephra fall, lahars, pyroclastic flows, volcanic gases and volcanic unrest, together with integrated multi-hazard and cascading-risk frameworks.Lahars and Secondary Hazards — Lahar dynamics, triggering conditions and downstream impacts, particularly in glaciated volcanic environments or those strongly affected by rainfall.Societal Impacts and Disaster Risk Reduction — Evacuation planning, community resilience, risk communication, exposure and vulnerability assessments, and the role of science in informing policy and emergency management.Volcanic Records and Long-term Eruptive Histories — Tephrochronology, stratigraphic reconstructions and palaeo-eruptive records that constrain recurrence intervals and magnitude–frequency relationships.Environmental and Ecosystem Impacts — Effects of volcanic emissions and tephra on air quality, soil chemistry, water systems, biodiversity and agricultural productivity.We welcome the full range of Frontiers article types, including:Original Research — New field, laboratory, experimental or modelling results.Review and Mini Review — Syntheses of the current state of knowledge on key topics.Methods — Novel analytical, monitoring or modelling approaches.Perspective and Hypothesis and Theory — Forward-looking and conceptual contributions.Brief Research Report — Rapid communication of focused findings. Topic editors: Maurizio Mulas, Alvaro Aravena, PATRICIA LARREA, Patricia Ann Mothes Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84061/volcanoes-of-ecuador-and-the-northern-andes-eruptive-dynamics-hazards-and-societal-impact