A plume of ash and gas billows rises above the crater of the Cotopaxi volcano, south of Quito. At the foot of the majestic snow-capped mountain, three researchers monitor the risk of eruption of Ecuador's most "dangerous" volcano due to its destructive potential. "Currently, the volcano is in moderate activity," says volcanologist Silvana Hidalgo, and the continuous release of gasses and ash is "affecting the entire western and northwestern area of the volcano." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES