chile volcano 2015
chile volcano 2015 Calbuco (volcano)
is astratovolcanolocated southeast ofLlanquihue Lakeand
northwest ofChapo Lake, in theLos Lagos Region, and close to the
cities ofPuerto VarasandPuerto Monttin southernChile. With an
elevation of 2,105 meters above sea level, the volcano and the
surrounding area are protected within theLlanquihue National
Reserve.The most recent eruption happened on April 22, 2015,
followed by two smaller eruptions on April 24 and April 30. This
was Calbucos first activity since 1972Name and location
Calbuco is located partly inPuerto Varas Communeand partly
inPuerto Montt Commune. It lies 49 km from the city of Puerto Varas
and 69 km from Puerto Montt. Its name is thought to come from
theMapuchewords kallf (blue) and ko (water), meaning blue water.It
shares the name withCalbuco Islandin nearbyReloncav Soundas well as
the city andcommuneofCalbuco, although it is not located there.
Geology
Calbuco is a very explosiveandesitevolcanowhoselavasusually
contain 55 to 60%silicon dioxide (SiO2).It is elongated in a SW-NE
direction and is capped by a 400-500 meter wide summit crater. Its
complex evolution included the collapse of an intermediate edifice
during the latePleistocenethat produced a debris avalanche that
reached Llanquihue LakeVolcanic activity
Calbuco has had 36 confirmed eruptions in its history, with 13
eruptions recorded since 1893. 20th century eruptions took place in
1906, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1917, 1929, 1932, 1945, 1961, 1972 and
1996. A series of three eruptions occurred from April 22-30,
2015.The 1893-4 Calbuco eruption was one of the largest ever to
take place in southernChile, with debris ejected to distances of
eight kilometres, accompanied by voluminous hotlahars. In the
strong explosions of April 1917, alava domeformed in the crater
accompanied by hot lahars. Another short explosive eruption in
January 1929 also included an apparentpyroclastic flowand
alavaflow.Volcanic activity cont.
The major eruption of 1961 sent ash columns 1215km high,
produced plumes that dispersed mainly to the south east and emitted
two lava flows. There was a minor, four-hour eruption on August 26,
1972. Strong fumarolic emission from the main crater was observed
on August 12, 19962015 eruption
Calbuco erupted on April 22, 2015, for the first time in four
decades. The eruption lasted 90 minutes and sent a plume of
volcanic ash 10km into the sky.A flow of lava was reported
intoChapo Lakeon the same day. The eruption caused airline flight
cancellations to Chile as well as Argentina and Uruguay.
Authorities evacuated 4,000 peoplefrom a zone with a 20km radius
from the volcanoFurther eruptions took place on April 24 and April
30, 2015. Experts have warned about the possibility of acid rain
andlahars. On May 5, 2015, theChilean governmentreported
thattourist activityin the area had returned to routine levelsView
of the eruption column of Calbuco Volcano from Puerto Varas, Chile,
on April 22, 2015.
Picture taken with VIIRS, infrared, April 23, 2015.
Chile's Calbuco volcano has erupted for the third time in eight
days, leading the government to order the evacuation of 2,500
people.Some of those residents had only just returned to their
homes after last week's eruptions.The latest eruption was less
powerful, but sent a large plume of dark grey smoke and ash rising
from the crater.Calbuco surprised residents of the Los Lagos region
last week by bursting into life after decades of inactivity.The
National Geology and Mines Service issued a red alert after
Thursday's eruption, warning that the volcano remained unstable.On
Friday, residents were warned that heavy rain could mix with ash
and rock to produce deadly volcanic mudflows.These "lahars" can
slide down volcanoes like avalanches.
The BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago says that whereas the ash last
week was blown in a north-easterly direction, this time it is
drifting south-east over the town of Cochamo.The town has been
blanketed in a cloud of smoke and ash.Calbuco is one of the most
active volcanoes in Chile, having erupted in 1961 and 1972, and
many times before that.Last week's eruptions caused the
cancellation of flights to and within Chile, and forced farmers in
the area to evacuate their livestock.11Chile's Calbuco volcano
covers town of Ensenada in ash
People living in the vicinity of the Calbuco volcano in Chile
are trying to save their homes and their livestock after tonnes of
ash rained down following two volcanic eruptions.The roofs of a
number of homes and businesses collapsed under the weight of the
ash and residents feared for their sheep and cows.Soldiers have
been deployed to help with the clean-up.The authorities have warned
of the possibility of further eruptions.
'Grey desert'
They also said that should it rain, the ash could mix with
debris to create dangerous mudflows.The Calbuco volcano in southern
Chile erupted twice last week, forcing the evacuation of more than
6,000 people.Chilean authorities said on Saturday that the volcano
had spewed out an estimated 210 million cubic metres (7,420 million
cubic feet) of ash.Local resident Victor Hugo Toledo said the area
looked like a "grey desert".Roofs collapsed under the weight of the
ash
Many roads are still covered in ash and it is feared that rain
could turn it into a hard crust
Ash and smoke continued to spew from the Calbuco after the two
eruptions last week
