On 18 August a Red Alert was imposed by the La Araucanía regional government on a number of localities around Llaima because of increased seismicity. ONEMI’s bulletin on this development notes that ‘The seismic activity recorded in recent days is comparable to that recorded in the days before the start of the eruption on 1 January and preceding the reactivation of February 2008′. SERNAGEOMIN’s alert for Llaima remains at Volcanic Alert Yellow.

The team at the Llaima visual observation project (POVI) have sent over the following two images, showing Llaima in eruption amid the clouds of 18 August. Both views are taken from the south and show the eruption plumes produced by the volcano’s sporadic ash emissions being blown eastwards (from left to right). The upper picture was taken at 16:20 local time and the lower at 17:17 local time.

Our thanks to the team at POVI for sharing these imags with The Volcanism Blog. The POVI Llaima website has further pictures of this eruption, and a spectacular time-lapse video of the eruptive activity on 18 August.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima « The Volcanism Blog

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

The most recent SERNAGEOMIN bulletin on Llaima (12 August 2008) noted that the volcano was showing activity similar to that of previous days. The pyroclastic cone within the main crater, which has been the seat of recent eruptions, was producing ‘an intense and continuous emission of steam, with small quantities of volcanic gases’; seismicity was reported to be at a low level. On 13 August weak ash emissions and nocturnal incandescence were reported by the POVI Llaima observation project.

Today from POVI comes news that Llaima is erupting once again with sporadic weak ash emissions that are being carried to the east by strong winds. The following picture comes from POVI and shows clearly the pulses of ash cloud produced by the activity within the main crater.

Many thanks to our friends at POVI for this information and the image, which is copyright POVI. Information about and pictures of all recent and current activity can be found of course at POVI’s Llaima site.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima « The Volcanism Blog

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

The Chilean newspaper El Diario Austral La Araucanía ran a story yesterday with the disturbing headline ‘Advierten posibilidad de gran erupción del Llaima’ (’warning of the possibility of a big eruption of Llaima’). The article is somewhat alarmist and ill-informed, stating as it does that the volcano’s conduit is ‘blocked’ and that Llaima’s behaviour is becoming ‘increasingly unpredictable for the experts’. On the contrary, there is no evidence of any obstruction of the conduit, and Llaima’s behaviour is following the same pattern as it has in previous eruptions and causing no exceptional concerns.

This story was based on a briefing given in Melipeuco by the emergency committee of the La Araucanía regional government. Local SERNAGEOMIN volcanologist Hugo Moreno reported that Llaima is ‘calm’ - also the word used in the latest SERNAGEOMIN bulletin on Llaima (PDF), released 28 July 2008 - but he then went on to wonder aloud about how long this ‘calm’ situation would last, observing that the volcano’s behaviour can change very rapidly, and that the trend since 1 July has been for the eruptive episodes that punctuate the calm periods to release progressively larger amounts of energy: ‘The disturbing fact is that while the eruptive episodes have been between much longer periods of calm, each is more intense. Unfortunately it is not possible to rule out a larger eruption’. This is also what the 28 July Llaima bulletin says; the prediction, however, is not ‘a big eruption’ but ‘a larger eruption’.

Furthermore the Intendenta of La Araucanía said that the volcano’s behaviour ‘manifests itself with a rise every five or seven days. These increases entail a rise in the emission of lava, in the energy released and the emission of pyroclasts and ash’. The suggestion of progressively bigger eruptions ‘every five or seven days’ has been taken by some as indicating that a large eruption can be expected this weekend, and some unjustified alarm is being felt in the communities that neighbour the volcano.

Scientists working with limited information have to convey the situation as they understand it as clearly as possible to the people who live around an active volcano; but they also need to be careful when making statements that are reported by the local press. Journalists hear the words ‘larger eruption’ and ‘five to seven days’ and tend draw whatever conclusions produce the most dramatic story. Hence what appeared yesterday in El Diario Austral La Araucanía.

[Thanks to Werner Keller of POVI for information received.]

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima « The Volcanism Blog

News
Advierten posibilidad de gran erupción del Llaima - El Diario Austral La Araucanía, 30 July 2008 (Spanish)

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

SERNAGEOMIN have just issued a bulletin covering both Llaima and Chaitén volcanoes.

The former is dealt with fairly briefly: it is ’calm’ in the wake of Saturday’s eruption, but another such eruptive episode could, we are warned, develop very rapidly.

There is much more to say about Chaitén, where the elevated seismicity of the last few weeks remains the main focus of concern. SERNAGEOMIN suggests that ‘a percentage’ (high? low?) of the higher-magnitude quakes could be tectonic in origin, associated with the nearby fault system that runs to the east of Chaitén. A volcanic explanation remains the most likely, however, with the ascent of a new pulse of lava continuing to be SERNAGEOMIN’s suggestion. That new magma may well feel a renewal of eruptive activity.

29.07.2008 SERNAGEOMIN report concerning the volcanoes Chaitén and Llaima

Llaima volcano is in a period of ‘calm’, very different from the situation of Chaitén whose weak eruptive activity is not in accord with the high seismicity recorded in the last few weeks.

Llaima volcano

In the same way as the previous eruptive episodes of this month, the latest occurring on Saturday 26 July had a duration of 11.5 hours, although the stage of the greatest intensity lasted only one hour. This corresponds to a vigorous Strombolian-type event, effusive, with rapid onset and decline. Also, the presence of powerful tremor was associated with the emission of ashes, with intense ejection of pyroclasts and a very high rate of emission of lava.

At present, Llaima volcano is in a new period of ‘calm’, with weak background tremor and few LP-type earthquakes, which are associated with very weak degassing and movements of internal fluids. However, it could take only a few days for a new eruptive episode similar or greater than that of Saturday 26 July to come to pass.

Chaitén volcano

Thus far, available records indicate weak eruptive activity, which has shown a modest upswing in the last few days without giving rise to a significant eruption column. In general terms, the declining trend appears to continue on course.

The weather conditions have not permitted observation of the volcano, except for short periods in which the cloud has left uncovered an eruption column that does not surpass a kilometre in altitude above the summit of Chaitén.

Moreover, intense and continuous noise has been perceptible since 24 July, when an emission of ash accumulated to the depth of 3cm around Chaitén. On 27 July weather conditions again favoured the fall of fine ash on the town, albeit in a very restricted manner. The preceding describes, regardless, eruptive activity that is weak but sustained.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the latest seismic data clearly shows an elevated seismicity, which has been sustained for several weeks, both in the number of earthquakes and their magnitude (a large number of them being felt by people over several days) and recorded by stations at a distance, with an increase in the number of earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 3.5M. Likewise, it was possible to verify that the greater part of the earthquakes of greater energy were located to the south-east and south-south-east of the Chaitén volcano.

This seismicity could relate to the beginning of the ascent of a new pulse of magma, the depth of which has not yet been determined with precision. Also, it is possible that a percentage of these earthquakes could be associated with the movement of faults in the area east of the volcano. In that case, they would correspond well to earthquakes of tectonic origin, such as those reported in previous bulletins, which were located up to 10km east of the volcano.

The most worrying scenario is the ascent of a new pulse of magma which, eventually, culminates in a new large-scale eruption. For this reason, SERNAGEOMIN continues detailed analysis of this seismicity to determine, especially, its origin and depth.

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

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Global Volcanism Program: Chaitén - summary information for Chaitén (1508-41)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project
Erupción del Volcán Chaitén - extensive coverage of the Chaitén eruption
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)

From our friends at POVI come the following images of Llaima volcano in eruption on 26 July 2008. This event was the most powerful Strombolian eruption since the current eruptive cycle began on 1 July.

There are ten images in total. The first two are below, the remainder are under the cut, so click on ‘More’ to view the whole collection. All the images were captured during the evening of 26 July by members of the POVI team, and are copyright © POVI and the photographers, Roberto Alarcón (the first two) and Jean Paul de la Harpe (the remainder). Many more wonderful images of Llaima can be found at the POVI photographic galleries page.

POVI also have a spectacular time-lapse video on their homepage which condenses the 2 hours and 20 minutes of the eruption to 2 minutes 42 seconds.

(more…)

After a quiet few days there was spectacular activity at Llaima yesterday, 26 July 2008. The Chilean Government’s emergencies office ONEMI reports that from 17:30 local time yesterday explosive activity took place at the crater, ash was erupted and a lava flow descended 250m in the direction of the Calbuco river. The eruption column reached an altitude of approximately 7000 metres. POVI describes the activity as a ‘powerful new strombolian eruption in 2 cycles with lava fountains, lava flows, emissions of ash and expulsion of pyroclastic material to reach up to 700 metres in altitude’, and has some spectacular photographs.

In an early report on the latest activity, Radio Cooperativa reports that increased seismicity was registered and a glow was visible from the summit crater. According to local ONEMI chief Claudia Novoa, quoted in the report, an overflight took place and ‘observed that one of the small craters, which is nestled within the main crater, is erupting pyroclasts. There is no emission of lava, only explosions’. Since then, as reported above, lava has been erupted.

Llaima remains under Yellow Volcanic Alert. 123 Chile, reporting the latest eruption, notes that emergency committees in the surrounding towns are actively monitoring the volcano’s activity.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima « The Volcanism Blog

News
Lugareños advirtieron reactivación del volcán Llaima - Radio Cooperativa, 26 July 2008 (Spanish)
Se reactiva volcán Llaima - 123 Chile, 26 July 2008 (Spanish)

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

POVI is a private, non-profit Chilean volcano monitoring initiative, entirely funded by its own members and by donations (which are always gratefully received). Their use of advanced technology produces a wealth of visual and other information on Villarrica and Llaima volcanoes, available on their website. POVI has generously shared a great deal of this material with The Volcanism Blog, including the three images below which show spectacular explosive activity at Llaima on 19 July 2008. The images below are reduced in size: for full-size versions, and additional images, visit the POVI website.

The pictures were taken just after 1300 local time on 19 July and show phreatomagmatic explosive activity, the eruption of ash and volcanic bombs, and a pyroclastic flow.

Above: 1302 local time - explosive activity at the summit and eastwards-trending ash plume. The small feature to the right of the main summit is Pichillaima, a subsidiary crater south-east of the main vent which was last active in 1994.

Above: 1316 local time - phreatomagmatic explosions reach 500m above the summit. POVI notes that the phreatomagmatic episode which began at 1240 on 19 July was the most violent of the current eruption since 1 January 2008.

Above: 1318 local time - a small pyroclastic flow descends the south-western flank of the volcano.

All the above pictures are copyright Roberto Alarcón (Team-Povi).

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima << The Volcanism Blog

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

The regional government of La Araucanía, the region within which Llaima volcano is situated, increased the Yellow Alert status to Red Alert today at 14:00 local time. The details are in ONEMI bulletin no. 382:

The Intedenta of La Araucanía Region, on the basis of the technical recommendation of ONEMI, decided to declare Red Alert from 14:00 today, for the localities El Danubio, La Selva, Los Lleuques, Santa Ana, Colonia Caupolicán and Las Mercedes, along the Calbuco river, on the slopes of Llaima volcano, western sector, where about 40 people reside. The foregoing results from the increased activity of Llaima volcano and the presence of a frontal system bringing significant rainfall to the region.

SERNAGEOMIN have released another bulletin on the eruption at Llaima today which, although it does not cover the most recent activity, confirms the overall impression of an increasing level of activity:

The eruptive phase of the ‘Hawaiian’ type begun on 30 June and characterized by the passive emission of basaltic lava has evolved into activity of a weak ‘Strombolian’ type, characterized both by the emission of ash and gases from the pyroclastic cone situated inside the main crater and the erupting of lava, which continued on 3 July.

The bulletin describes ‘a sustained increase in seismic energy’ and a rise in harmonic tremor during 2 and 3 July, associated with an increased rate of lava emission, while the strombolian activity at main crater reached heights of up to 400m above the summit. On the evening of 3 July an eruption plume from Llaima was stretching 50km to the east-south-east.

The latest press coverage from Chile reports the Red Alert, and the increased rate of lava emission and the threat of lahars. Terra España reports that the volcano has ‘expelled pyroclastic material from its crater while increasing the flow of lava down one of its slopes, [the flow] extending to a length of about three kilometres, without reaching populated areas’. The Governor of one of the affected districts, Cautín, tells La Segunda that lahars along the river Calbuco are his biggest concern, but that so far the water level ‘has increased only slightly due to rain and snow’. He describes the current situation as ‘not alarming’ but says that ‘we have taken all measures to protect the people in the course of the river Calbuco’ and that if evacuation should become necessary all the arrangements are in place to ensure it can be done speedily.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima << The Volcanism Blog

News
Chile declara alerta roja por mayor actividad de volcán Llaima - Reuters América Latina, 4 July 2008 (Spanish)
El volcán Llaima incrementa su actividad en el sur de Chile y obliga a mantener la alerta roja - Terra España, 4 July 2008 (Spanish)
Volcán Llaima aumentó su actividad y autoridades intensifican vigilancia - Terra España, 4 July 2008 (Spanish)
Crecida del río Calbuco preocupa a gobernador de Cautín - La Segunda, 4 July 2008 (Spanish)

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

The director of ONEMI, Carmen Fernández, met local emergency officials today in Cherquenco to discuss arrangements for monitoring and responding to the current eruption of Llaima volcano, reports ONEMI in its latest bulletin (no. 379). The same report has a note on the volcano’s emission of a small plume: ‘Regarding the fumarolic emission which can be seen in the central crater, there are two sources of emissions, one of a white colour and the other pale grey, emitting a very low quantity of ash, especially at the level of the crater in an eastwards direction’.

Three new pictures of the Llaima eruption have been sent by Werner Keller of POVI. The images come from POVI’s Llaima webcam, located in the town of Melipeuco, south of the volcano.

Above: picture taken at 06:10 local time, with strombolian activity in the summit crater and lava flow on the western slope visible to the left.

Above: picture taken at 0725 local time, showing strong strombolian activity at the summit.

Above: picture taken at 1211 local time; ashfall is visible on the right (east of the summit), along with steam clouds produced by phreatomagmatic activity in the crater.

Above: picture taken at 18:07 local time on 3 July 2008, with explosive activity at the summit and fresh lava continuing to flow down the western flank.

For more on POVI’s work at Llaima, visit the POVI Llaima site.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima << The Volcanism Blog

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project

The Chilean Government emergencies agency ONEMI has published a bulletin (no. 377) reporting on an overflight conducted at Llaima volcano yesterday by ONEMI, SERNAGEOMIN and regional government personnel. Ashfall was observed on the upper western slopes, about 1000m from the crater, produced by minor ash expulsions. The lava flow had reached a length of approximately 2000m. SERNAGEOMIN stressed again that ‘the eruptive activity presents low explosivity and a low rate of lava emission, which, if it continues, will decrease the threat of generating lahars’. The zones of greatest risk remain the valley of the Calbuco river (south-west of the volcano) and the valley of the Lan Lan river (north-west of the volcano).

ONEMI is maintaining a Yellow Alert for Cunco, Curacautín, Melipeuco and Vilcún, and ‘does not rule out the establishment of Red Alert, if the situation so warrants’. A later bulletin (no. 378) confirms the maintenance of Yellow Alert.

For all our Llaima coverage: Llaima << The Volcanism Blog

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Llaima - summary information for Llaima (1507-11=)
Volcán Llaima - information from the Observatorio Volcanológico de los Andes del Sur (Spanish)
Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Chilean government emergencies office (Spanish)
SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Chile (Spanish)
Proyecto Observación Visual Volcán Llaima - Llaima Visual Observation Project