He Argentine Mining Geological Service (SEGEMAR)through his Argentine Volcanic Monitoring Observatory (OAVV)detected this Saturday, October 19, through its monitoring cameras, an increase in the surface activity of the Copahue volcano located on the border between Argentina and Chile, with emission of volcanic ash.
The official report from Segemar received by Scope indicated that the cameras installed in the vicinity of the Copahue Volcano began “to record from 04:30 local time (07:30 UTC)“, an increase in surface activity, characterized by the emission of fine particulate material (volcanic ash), which was accompanied by a previous increase and decrease at the beginning of the emission, of the energy of the seismic signal of the continuous volcanic tremor.” .
What does seismological monitoring say about the Copahue volcano?
The official report reported that previously, as of Friday, October 18, 2024 at 6 p.m., a “progressive increase in the energy of the seismic signal related to the volcanic tremor assessed through the measurement of the Seismic Amplitude in Real Time (RSAM)”.
“It declined abruptly at approximately 04:30 local time (07:30 UTC), which was correlated with the beginning of the emission of fine particulate matter,” completed the document accessed Scope.
It is worth noting that the energy of the seismic tremor (TR) signal has shown a variation in recent days with a slight increase in energy, as well as in the dominant frequencies. The increase in the dominant frequencies of the tremor can originate either from overpressure in the ducts due to their sealing or from the presence of ash in the emitted gas column.
At the time of this report, the tremor energy remains low although with high dominant frequencies, as has been observed in processes that occurred in previous years.
Information from visual monitoring of the volcano
Visual monitoring of the Copahue volcano revealed in recent days a “increase in surface activity, mainly associated with the emission of volcanic gases, accompanied by a phenomenon of intense nocturnal incandescence, a product of the interaction of volcanic gases.”
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Likewise, Segemar reported that during the early morning of October 19, 2024 it was “possible to record, from the monitoring cameras installed in the vicinity of the volcano, a greater increase in this surface activity, which gave rise to the beginning of a pulse of emission of fine particulate material (volcanic ash), with an estimated height of 200 m above the crater level, which was directed in a southeast (SE) direction.”
What did the ml monitoring with remote sensors indicate?
Segemar also reported that through the use of images from stationary satellites, an ash column was detected heading southeast (SE).
In turn, using the MIROVA platform, thermal anomalies were recorded in the crater area since October 19, for both the VIIRS and Modis sensors, presenting maximum values of 13 and 10 MWs respectively, values considered moderate.
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In turn, using the MIROVA platform, thermal anomalies were recorded in the crater area since October 19, both for the VIIRS and Modis sensors, presenting maximum values of 13 and 10 MWs respectively, values considered moderate. In a complementary way, through TROPOMI image processing, considerable SO emissions continue to be recorded.
“According to the background presented, and informed through the reports and special communications issued by the OAVV in previous days. This activity is related to the demolition of the crater lagoon of the Copahue volcanowhich has generated an increase in seismic and surface activity, associated with volcanic tremor, degassing and currently emission of fine particulate material (volcanic ash), mainly associated with a temporary overpressurization of the system,” the experts explained.
However, although no significant changes are currently observed in the internal dynamics of the volcano, it is not ruled out that it could continue to evolve towards higher energy events. With the current scenario, the occurrence of intense degassing phenomena, nocturnal incandescence, minor phreatic-type explosive events inside the crater and the emission of low columns of particulate material are possible.
Depending on weather conditions, such as changes in wind direction and speed, this activity may affect nearby populations, so it is recommended to take appropriate precautions. In this context, a radius of probable impact is suggested around 1000 m from the active crater of the volcano.
The history of Copahue Volcano
He Copahue volcano is part of the Caviahue-Copahue Volcanic Complex (CVCC)whose eruptive history dates back to approximately 125,000 years ago.
It constitutes a stratovolcano with stretched flanks, located on the western edge of a volcano-tectonic depression that houses Lake Caviahue and is composed mainly of lava flows of andesitic and basaltic-andesitic composition, and subordinate pyroclastic deposits.
At its summit, nine craters are recognized aligned in a northeasterly direction, of which the only active one is the easternmost crater that contains an acid lake and presents permanent fumarolic activity.
Products related to post-glacial activity (more than 14,000 years old) include lava flows, pyroclastic surges, lahars, and fall deposits associated with phreatomagmatic explosions.
For the historical period, 12 eruptions have been recorded in the last 250 years, most of them of phreatic type, highlighting those that occurred in 1992 and 2000. The last eruptive cycle began on December 22, 2012, with the generation of an eruptive column which reached 1500 m above the crater and dispersed towards the east-southeast, producing tephra fall in Argentine territory.
Since then, the Copahue volcano It has presented manifestations almost permanently, with sporadic emission of ash, occurrence of phreatic-phreatomagmatic explosions inside the crater and seismic activity of variable magnitude.
Furthermore, the crater lake has experienced emptying and subsequent recovery, evidencing a highly dynamic system.
This volcano is considered the most risky in Argentina, due to the existence of the towns of Caviahue and Copahue, located within an 8 km radius of the volcano’s crater.
The Copahue Thermal Village and the Caviahue ski center attract a large number of tourists in summer and winter, which significantly increase the stable population of both locations.
Source: Ambito
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