Chaitén satellite image, 28 May 2008

This satellite image, available at the NASA MODIS Rapid Response Image Gallery, shows the Chaitén eruption plume at 18:40 UTC on 28 May 2008. The image was captured by the Aqua satellite.

The main image above shows the emissions blowing due north from Chaitén in a steady, dense white plume which does not begin to dissipate until it is 150-200km north of the volcano. At this stage the wind was keeping the plume almost entirely along the Chilean coast: as a result of the dangers posed by the ash cloud, internal flights to southern towns were cancelled. Some ashfall is visible on the western side of the plume, and volcanic deposits can be seen in the sea and stretches of inland water. The close-up below shows the volcano and the surrounding districts at a larger scale of 1px=1km. Even larger-scale images, showing remarkable detail, are available: 1px=250m, 1px=500m. NASA calls these ‘alternate’ pixel sizes; they mean ‘alternative’, of course.

For all our Chaitén coverage: Chaitén « The Volcanism Blog.

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Chaitén – summary information for Chaitén (1508-41)
ONEMI, Oficina Nacional de Emergencia – Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN – volcanology information from the Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (Spanish)