Calbuco volcano news & activity updates:
Calbuco volcano update: Eruption update / summary
Thu, 23 Apr 2015, 18:04
18:04 PM | BY: T
Sub-plinian eruption of Calbuco this morning (image: C.I.M.A.T / facebook)
Effects of ash fall from Calbuco (CIMAT / facebook)
Gravity waves in ash plume seen from satellite (
A 20 km access exclusion zone around the volcano remains in place and the alert status is kept at maximum (red).
During the most intense phase, an impressive lava fountain could be seen jetting from the vent and the eruption column rose to more than 15 km altitude. An ash plume quickly drifted north, northeast and east into Argentina. Ballistic incandescent bombs were ejected to distances of up to 5 km.
Strong seismic activity with a medium of 150 volcanic-tectonic earthquakes of magnitudes up to 3.6 were recorded during the paroxysmal phase of the eruption.
Significant ash fall of up to 50-60 cm occurred in nearby downwind areas, while in the more distant areas of Los Ríos and Araucaní some millimeters of ash fell.
More than 4100 people were evacuated after the first eruption yesterday evening. A curfew was in place in Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and Puerto Octay from 23:45 to 05am to prevent looting in abandoned houses and shops.
Although the eruption was extremely violent, produced abundant heavy ash fall and pyroclastic flows, it seems that it only claimed one victim. A young mountaineer who at the time of the eruption was at a mountain shelter was reported missing, presumably dead.
Satellite images show interesting gravity waves (ripple-shaped ring waves) in the ash plume that developed when the initial plume rose into the stratosphere and spread laterally.
Sources:
- Sernageomin
- La Nacion
- C.I.M.A.T. (facebook)
- Gravity Waves Associated with a Volcanic Eruption (CIMSS Satellite Blog)
- All news about: Calbuco volcano
- Information about: Calbuco volcano
Previous news
Thu, 23 Apr 2015, 11:30
A major explosive eruption started at the volcano yesterday afternoon (20:45 GMT). VAAC Buenos Aires reported an ash plume to 30,000 ft (10 km) altitude. ... read all
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