Patricia (Patty) Ann Mothes is an American volcanologist who has spent most of her career working in Ecuador. She is best known for her work on volcanic hazards and risk in Ecuador.

Patricia Ann Mothes
Born1957
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin (MSc)
Scientific career
InstitutionsEscuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Ecuador

Biography and education edit

Mothes was born in West Virginia, USA, in 1957. She studied geography at University, graduating with a master's degree from University of Texas, Austin.[1] In 1986, she travelled to Ecuador with a grant from the Inter-American Foundation.[2]

Career edit

Mothes has worked for the Instituto Geofísico of the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), in Quito, Ecuador, since 1987. The IG-EPN is the responsible institution in Ecuador for the study of seismic and volcanic risk. Mothes was Head of the Volcanology section of IG-EPN for many years, including during the long-term volcanic eruption sequence at volcan Tungurahua, which began suddenly in 1999, and lasted for over 15 years.[3] As well as her national leadership in volcanology, Mothes is well known for her work on the hazards and risks from lahars, in particular those from Cotopaxi volcano.[4][5] in 2017, IG-EPN adopted a cartoon figure based on Mothes and called "Patty la Vulcanóloga" to represent the institution on their digital and print media.[6]

In 1993, Mothes was involved in the rescue of scientists who had been caught up in a fatal explosion on Galeras volcano, Colombia, during an international volcanological workshop.[7]

Recognition edit

Mothes served on the executive committee of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) from 2011 to 2015.[8] In December 2022, Mothes was recognised by the Government of Quito with the award of the "Gran Collar Barón de Carondelet". This distinction is reserved for people from outside Ecuador who have contributed to the development and progress of the city of Quito.[9][10] In January 2023, Mothes was given Honorary Member status of IAVCEI, at the Scientific Assembly in Rotorua.[11]

Family edit

Mothes is married to the volcanologist Minard L. 'Pete' Hall.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Vivir a la sombra de un volcán". www.lahora.com.ec.
  2. ^ Quillupangui, Soraya (June 9, 2021). "Patricia Mothes: 'Yo me siento humilde entre los volcanes'". El Comercio.
  3. ^ Mothes, Patricia A.; Yepes, Hugo A.; Hall, Minard L.; Ramón, Patricio A.; Steele, Alexander L.; Ruiz, Mario C. (February 25, 2015). "The scientific–community interface over the fifteen-year eruptive episode of Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador". Journal of Applied Volcanology. 4 (1): 9. Bibcode:2015JApV....4....9M. doi:10.1186/s13617-015-0025-y.
  4. ^ Mothes, Patricia A. (January 14, 1992). McCall, G. J. H.; Laming, D. J. C.; Scott, S. C. (eds.). Geohazards: Natural and man-made. Springer Netherlands. pp. 53–63. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-0381-4_7 – via Springer Link.
  5. ^ Mothes, Patricia A.; Hall, Minard L.; Janda, Richard J. (February 1, 1998). "The enormous Chillos Valley Lahar: an ash-flow-generated debris flow from Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador". Bulletin of Volcanology. 59 (4): 233–244. Bibcode:1998BVol...59..233M. doi:10.1007/s004450050188. S2CID 128636134 – via Springer Link.
  6. ^ "Mostrando artículos por etiqueta: patty - Instituto Geofísico - EPN". www.igepn.edu.ec.
  7. ^ Reich, Kenneth (January 25, 1993). "Images Haunt Survivors of Volcano Eruption : Disaster: On what had seemed a routine exploration, U.N. scientists are caught in surprise explosion that killed nine and injured 10". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Cas, Ray A.F. (January 11, 2022). "The centenary of IAVCEI 1919–2019 and beyond: origins and evolution of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior". Bulletin of Volcanology. 84 (2): 15. Bibcode:2022BVol...84...15C. doi:10.1007/s00445-021-01509-5. PMC 8748530. PMID 35035015 – via Springer Link.
  9. ^ diciembre, rea Saltosel 1; amPermalink, 2022 a las 2:50 (November 29, 2022). "Concejo Metropolitano conoció los nombres de los condecorados 2022".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Patricia Mothes recibe el premio "Gran Collar Barón de Carondelet" del Municipio de Quito - Instituto Geofísico - EPN". www.igepn.edu.ec.
  11. ^ IAVCEI [@IAVCEI_official] (February 1, 2023). "Moments from the IAVCEI awards Cerimony 🎊 Congratulations to the winners for their brillant achiviements in Volcanology 🌋 #iavcei2023 #rotorua #medalsforscience #NewZealand https://t.co/8JzwJg3nc1" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Williams, Stanley (2001). Surviving Galeras. London: Little, Brown and Co. (UK). p. 225. ISBN 0316855707.