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Report on Chaiten (Chile) — 8 April-14 April 2009


Chaiten

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 8 April-14 April 2009
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2009. Report on Chaiten (Chile) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 8 April-14 April 2009. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (8 April-14 April 2009)

Chaiten

Chile

42.8349°S, 72.6514°W; summit elev. 1122 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


SERNAGEOMIN reported that cloudy weather often prevented observations of Chaitén's Domo Nuevo 1 and Domo Nuevo 2 lava-dome complex during 30 March-6 April. Occasional clear views revealed that collapses from the central spine continued, and a new smaller spine grew on the southern area of Domo Nuevo 1. On 8 April, seismic activity gradually increased. During 11-12 April, the numbers and magnitudes of earthquakes were the highest; magnitudes reached M 4.5. The Alert Level remained at Red. Based on analysis of satellite imagery and web camera views, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that during 9-11 and 14 April, ash plumes rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.4 km (5,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, ENE, and ESE.

Geological Summary. Chaitén is a small caldera (~3 km in diameter) located 10 km NE of the town of Chaitén on the Gulf of Corcovado. Multiple explosive eruptions throughout the Holocene have been identified. A rhyolitic obsidian lava dome occupies much of the caldera floor. Obsidian cobbles from this dome found in the Blanco River are the source of artifacts from archaeological sites along the Pacific coast as far as 400 km from the volcano to the N and S. The caldera is breached on the SW side by a river that drains to the bay of Chaitén. The first recorded eruption, beginning in 2008, produced major rhyolitic explosive activity and building a new dome and tephra cone on the older rhyolite dome.

Sources: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN), Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)