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The unexpected awakening of Chaitén volcano, Chile

The unexpected awakening of Chaitén volcano, Chile
The unexpected awakening of Chaitén volcano, Chile
On 2 May 2008, a large eruption began unexpectedly at the inconspicuous Chaitén volcano in Chile’s southern volcanic zone. Ash columns abruptly jetted from the volcano into the stratosphere, followed by lava dome effusion and continuous low- altitude ash plumes [Lara, 2009]. Apocalyptic photographs of eruption plumes suffused with lightning were circulated globally.

Effects of the eruption were extensive. Floods and lahars inundated the town of Chaitén, and its 4625 residents were evacuated. Widespread ashfall and drifting ash clouds closed regional airports and cancelled hundreds of domestic flights in Argentina and Chile and numerous international flights [Guffanti et al., 2008]. Ash heavily affected the aquaculture industry in the nearby Gulf of Corcovado, curtailed ecotourism, and closed regional nature preserves. To better prepare for future eruptions, the Chilean government has boosted support for monitoring and hazard mitigation at Chaitén and at 42 other highly hazardous, active volcanoes in Chile.

The Chaitén eruption discharged rhyolite magma, a high-silica composition associated with extremes of eruptive behavior ranging from gentle lava effusion to violent, gas-driven explosions. As the first major rhyolitic eruption since that of Alaska’s Katmai-Novarupta in 1912, it permits observations that are benchmarks for future such events. It also reignites the debate on what processes rekindle long-dormant volcanoes, justifies efforts to mitigate rare but significant hazards through ground-based monitoring, and confi rms the value of timely satellite observations.
0096-3941
205-206
Carn, S.A.
9e6a80cf-564a-4eb1-b6d7-945530bb00dc
Pallister, J.S.
b946ade1-a535-4f41-a522-490fabea81e5
Lara, L.
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Ewert, J.W.
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Watt, S.F.L.
76f594eb-9252-4a8b-822f-be71038b18db
Prata, A.J.
663cca40-409b-4336-82af-488df1e229d3
Carn, S.A.
9e6a80cf-564a-4eb1-b6d7-945530bb00dc
Pallister, J.S.
b946ade1-a535-4f41-a522-490fabea81e5
Lara, L.
79c08aa3-260e-4c33-beaf-b77bb940a2a9
Ewert, J.W.
8694bb8f-3e79-4358-a8f9-1e7d799412e6
Watt, S.F.L.
76f594eb-9252-4a8b-822f-be71038b18db
Prata, A.J.
663cca40-409b-4336-82af-488df1e229d3

Carn, S.A., Pallister, J.S., Lara, L., Ewert, J.W., Watt, S.F.L. and Prata, A.J. (2009) The unexpected awakening of Chaitén volcano, Chile. Eos Transactions American Geophysical Union, 90 (24), 205-206.

Record type: Article

Abstract

On 2 May 2008, a large eruption began unexpectedly at the inconspicuous Chaitén volcano in Chile’s southern volcanic zone. Ash columns abruptly jetted from the volcano into the stratosphere, followed by lava dome effusion and continuous low- altitude ash plumes [Lara, 2009]. Apocalyptic photographs of eruption plumes suffused with lightning were circulated globally.

Effects of the eruption were extensive. Floods and lahars inundated the town of Chaitén, and its 4625 residents were evacuated. Widespread ashfall and drifting ash clouds closed regional airports and cancelled hundreds of domestic flights in Argentina and Chile and numerous international flights [Guffanti et al., 2008]. Ash heavily affected the aquaculture industry in the nearby Gulf of Corcovado, curtailed ecotourism, and closed regional nature preserves. To better prepare for future eruptions, the Chilean government has boosted support for monitoring and hazard mitigation at Chaitén and at 42 other highly hazardous, active volcanoes in Chile.

The Chaitén eruption discharged rhyolite magma, a high-silica composition associated with extremes of eruptive behavior ranging from gentle lava effusion to violent, gas-driven explosions. As the first major rhyolitic eruption since that of Alaska’s Katmai-Novarupta in 1912, it permits observations that are benchmarks for future such events. It also reignites the debate on what processes rekindle long-dormant volcanoes, justifies efforts to mitigate rare but significant hazards through ground-based monitoring, and confi rms the value of timely satellite observations.

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More information

Published date: 16 June 2009
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 190547
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/190547
ISSN: 0096-3941
PURE UUID: cd313c59-7335-46ee-8dbe-7d3cbc1044a9

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 21 Jun 2011 12:23
Last modified: 22 Jul 2022 17:44

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Contributors

Author: S.A. Carn
Author: J.S. Pallister
Author: L. Lara
Author: J.W. Ewert
Author: S.F.L. Watt
Author: A.J. Prata

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