Eruption of Chilean Volcano viewed from space

NASA Earth Observatory ^ | May 3, 2008 | NASA

[ohioman]

After being dormant for over 9,000 years, this volcano has a good chance at having a Caldera collapse, especially since this happened during the only other known erutpion. It could be the biggest since Pinatubo - probably a VEI 5 right now (like Mt. St. Helens). However, Krakatau was a strong 6 and Tambora a weak 7.

[Steve Van Doorn]

I set this as my background pic on my computer.

Thanks

[Steve Van Doorn]

If the Caldera collapses wouldn't this be by far the largest volcano ever witnessed?

I realize this is a small Caldera (1.9 miles in diameter) but man has never witnessed a super volcano going off. Meaning man has never witnessed and reported on a high viscosity caldera collapse.

[Steve Van Doorn]

[tet68]

Re:#44 awesome pic.
In the pre eruption pictures the caldera from the previous eruption is plainly visible.

[Steve Van Doorn]

You can see the Caldara on google maps:
42 50 08.23S 72 39 08.67W

[Rebelbase]

So that’s what 100 bazillion carbon credits cleans up.

[Rebelbase]

That is the photo of a lifetime!

[cmsgop]

Good point, I’m kinda surprised this subject was not more front and center as far as news goes.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Yeah me to this has the potential to be a MAJOR disaster through out the world.

[cogitator]

Don’t forget about Katmai 1912; approximately 2/3 of Krakatoa or 2x Pinatubo, and a rhyolitic eruption.

[RightWhale]

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Chile_volcano_erupts_evacuation_ordered_999.html

Puerto Montt, Chile (AFP) May 6, 2008

A volcano in southern Chile erupted with renewed vigor Tuesday, raining ash and lava over its surroundings and forcing a total evacuation in a 30-kilometer (19-mile) radius, the National Emergency Office said.

Emergency sirens sounded in the coastal region 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) south of Santiago, after the Chaiten volcano blasted out ash and cinders and generated lava and pyroclastic flows, four days after it awoke from a 300-year slumber.

“A maximum alert has been decreed,” Jorge Munoz, the head of the National Emergency Office (ONEMI), told AFP in Santiago after the volcano blew its top at 8:45am (1245 GMT).

A government vulcanologist warned that the eruption was only at the beginning stage and that an explosive eruption was possible.

“There could be a major explosion that could collapse the volcano’s cone,” said Luis Lara of the National Geologic and Mining Service.

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Just beginning. Won’t affect northern hemisphere unless it blows Argentina to the moon.

[ohioman]

Krakatau had a Caldera collapse right into the sea back in 1880-something. I would be surprised if this Volcano reached the explosive power of Krakatau.

[ohioman]

Good point. Katmai was every bit an unknown as this Volcano. The caldera collapse at Katmai was very close to Pinatubo in explosive power - both a VEI 6.

[cogitator]

They need to get some SO2 measurements over that volcano soon. That was the key to knowing that Pinatubo was going to have its major blow, before it did.

[Steve Van Doorn]

thank you for pointing that out.

[ohioman]

I think it would take a VEI 7 from Chaiten to override the 30,000 killed by the Hurricane in Myanmar.

[Mike Darancette]

I realize this is a small Caldera (1.9 miles in diameter) but man has never witnessed a super volcano going off.

Man was around ~70,000 years ago when Toba went off with a bang equivalent to 3,000 Mt. St. Helens erupting at once. Almost wiped everyone out. The earth temperature dropped 5C.

[Steve Van Doorn]

yes.. but in the past few hundred years were we could record these things there have been a few Volcano's that have dropped the temperature around 1/2 a deg C.

Toba is much larger then this Volcano can ever be.