Chaiten Volcano Erupts

Credit: Jeff Schmaltz; MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Saturday, 26 July 2008, 11:03 CDT Download full size image

Two and a half months after its May 2, 2008, eruption, Chile’s Chaiten Volcano continued releasing a plume of volcanic ash and steam. The MODIS on the Aqua satellite captured this image on July 19, 2008.

According to the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency, a plume from Chaiten traveled approximately 130 nautical miles (240 kilometers) toward the northwest before changing direction and heading north-northeast on July 19. This image shows the volcano’s plume blowing away from the volcano toward the northwest. Immediately southwest of the volcano, a slight discoloration of the ocean water suggests the presence of waterborne volcanic ash. Skies are relatively clear over the snowcapped mountains.

Quiet for more than 9,000 years before its May 2008 eruption, Chaiten is a caldera volcano. This type of volcano forms when the magma chamber completely empties during an eruption, causing the summit to collapse and create a circular depression.

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