(http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3992/30800252aj0.jpg)
No idea what the article says but the photo is just fantastic isn't it?
http://www.lun.com/modulos/catalogo/paginas/2008/05/04/LUCPRDI02LU0405.htm?tipoPantalla=1260
It is, but what I want to see is some decent photos of the area round the vent. At the moment I'm guessing that it's a case of ans (ie bits of solidified magma) being blasted high into the air. I could be wrong though; I haven't seen enough to see whether there are any pyroclastic flows.
Some additional information found on the Sky News website http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video/?&videoSourceID=1314947&flashURL=/feeds/skynews/latest/flash/volcano_p6299.flv
and a bit more http://volcanism.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/eruption-at-chaiten-volcano-chile/
From what little I can see, there's an open crater surrounded by a smooth sheet of snow or ash, with a plume going straight up. That suggests a classic Plinean eruption, so far at any rate, with no sign of pyroclastic flows. That article is quite correct in saying there shouldn't be a lahar (mud flow) as there's no crater lake to generate one. Life in the town must be hell with all the grit going everywhere, and everything probably stinkng of volcanic fumes, but there's only a thin layer of ash so far. The danger is that the thing hasn't erupted for so long, there's likely to be a massive buildup of gas down there, which could potentially lead to a catastrophic eruption. It's too early to tell.
Wow - the picture is spectacular - and you guys you all seem to know so much about the volcano and hot it happens and what is coming out!
But just give me the picture that has total WOW factor!
Old Bird
Sam, I am the same as old bird, just a fantastic picture.
It's a cracking picture, isn't it?
Here's a series of them as the eruption started http://www.inglaner.com/volcan_chaiten.htm
Fantastic photo :) Unfortunately could not view the latest ones due to a bandwidth limit, maybe later :-\ :)
WOW!!!
My niece is currently on an around the world trip and left Chile just before the eruption. She's now in Argentina, and I've been told that the ash has spread to a third of Argentina. She hasn't mentioned anything about it in her blog though.
Jo.