Here’s the eruption seen from NASA MODIS:
This visible image was taken on June 8 at 18:30 UTC (2:30 p.m. EDT) by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. The plume from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano in Chile has expanded to the south and is now covering a much wider angle than earlier this week. The image shows the plume of ash now blowing to the east over Argentina in what almost appears to be a 90 degree triangle. (Credit: NASA’s MODIS Rapid Response Team)
And here is the SO2 imagery from the European Space Agency (ESA):
After lying dormant for more than 50 years, a series of rumbling earthquakes signaled the beginnings of this major volcanic eruption. On 4 June, a fissure opened, sending a towering plume of volcanic ash and gas over 10 km high.
Several thousand people were evacuated as a thick layer of ash and pumice fell and blanketed a wide area. Airports in Chile and Argentina were closed as a result.
The image was generated on 6 June using data from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer on Eumetsat’s MetOp-A satellite. As the eruption continued, the image shows how strong winds initially swept the broad plume of sulphur dioxide northwards and then eastwards across Argentina and out over the southern Atlantic Ocean.
Strong westerly winds are common in this region because it lies within the belt of the ‘Roaring Forties’. Since there is little land south of 40º, higher wind speeds can develop than at the same latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Interestingly, over the South Atlantic, the plume take a sharp turn to the north as a pressure system causes the wind to change direction.
The Puyehue-Cordón Caulle complex is a chain of volcanoes that includes the Puyehue volcano, the Cordilera Nevada caldera and the Cordón Caulle rift zone. This event appears to have stemmed from the rift zone and is the most serious since the eruption of 1960, also from the same vent.
Chile has more than 3000 volcanoes, of which around 80 are currently active.
The image represents sulphur dioxide concentrations within the full vertical column of atmosphere. It was generated using data from the interferometer, which was developed by the French space agency CNES for MetOp-A.
The MetOp programme was jointly established by ESA and Eumetsat and forms the space segment of Eumetsat’s Polar System.
interesting paper Vukcevic, although I have only briefly scanned it (I will need to review it in more detail later). They conclude that there was more volcanic activity in the early part of the 20th century and despite this, based of course on models, the warming observed during the first part of the 20th century was due to natural causes specifically due to solar forcing. I wonder what data they used for early 20th century TSI given that Leif Svalgaard considers that TSI during the 20th century was almost flat at about 1366 w per m squared +/- 1/2 w per m squared with no rise between 1900s to 1940s.
I liked the pictures linked by Ric. Well worth a look.
Here in Perth, Western Australia I can see faint east-west bands across the sky that don’t appear to be clouds. I assume dust from the volcano.
Ric,
Those photos
you posted a link to are amazing!
Why all the lightening during the ejection? It seems to be a common thing. Is there any indication how deep the magma source is? Just curious. The photos are magnificent.
@Ric Werme
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/06/10/sulfur-dioxide-plume-from-the-chilean-volcano/#comment-677715
You could convince me that . . . this was photo-shopped . . . .amazing photos!
This has now been rated a VEI 6 eruption (so far), the same as Pinatubo. I expect there will be at least some climactic impact given the SO2 imagery.
To answer Mr. McQuiddy, lightning frequently accompanies volcanic eruptions.
how quickly does this have an effect? I have mixed feelings…on the one hand, it will be fun to watch the temperatures respond…on the other, they now have a trump card they can slam down, which is really annoying. still….this will only add to the continuing decay of public concern, so the net value is a good thing I am fairly certain.
Hey Terry, where did you get informed that this volcano eruption has been rated a VEI-6?
Here is video of Grimsvötn and more satellite images.
NASA – GOES-13 Satellite Video Shows Grimsvotn Volcanic Ash Shooting into the Atmosphere
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/grimsvotn-20110525.html
NASA – Three Satellites See Eruption of Puyehue-Cordón Volcano from Space
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/20110606-volcano.html
Also, interesting images of tornado tracks…
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earth_features-noblinds_archive_1.html
It is showing to be slightly more than the 2008 VEI-4 eruption of Chaiten. But I haven’t been able to find anything stating a VEI-6? At least not from non-amateurs. Huge eruption though, so I expect sharper temperature gradients and lots of wind and precipitation to result from this over the next year or so.
Here is a link to a map modelling the SO2/ash flow since the eruption.
http://eer.cmc.ec.gc.ca:80/people/Alain/eer/emergencies/fd92kH73sSJDiO76bxpJK/Cordon_Caulle/exp_02/FL200-FL350/anim.html
thanks for the heads-up from my mate Si.
Coops
SERGANEOMIN’s red alert level 6 being maintained for this volcano was being misinterpreted as a VEI-6 by some news reports it appears. A result of language translations.
Anyone have any idea about the amounts of CO2 being emitted here ? Can it be estimated from SO2 emissions ? bulk chemistry ?
William McQuiddy says:
Why all the lightening during the ejection? It seems to be a common thing.
The ash appears to easily pick up a static charge through friction. IIRC all sorts of electrical effects when BA flight 9 flew through such a cloud.
Mark says: “The ash appears to easily pick up a static charge through friction”
Mark, Principle is reminiscent of John Galts Motor in “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand! To the rest, sorry for being a ‘troll’!