Our amazing planet.

Chile Volcano Still Spewing Ash

chile-volcano-110630-02
(Image credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project, Dennis Chesters)

The Puyehue-Cordón volcano in Chile continues to spew ash that is still disrupting travel as far as Australia and New Zealand this week. A new animation of satellite imagery just released from the NASA/NOAA GOES Project shows the ash spewing from the volcano.

The animation begins on June 24 at 0039 UTC (June 23 8:39 p.m. EDT) and runs 22 seconds. In the animation, the ash plume originally appears very thin as it blows northward. As the time series continues, the plume thickens and blows to the northwest into the Pacific Ocean. The animation ends on June 26 at 23:45 UTC (7:35 p.m. EDT).

Dennis Chesters of the NASA GOES Project noted of the animation, "The Chilean caldera still emits a steady stream of ash, three weeks after the initial eruption. Fortunately, the volume is much less, and the cold winter wind from the south carries it up the coast out over the Pacific, instead of over the Andes into Argentina."

According to CNN on June 28, the volcanic ash cloud was still affecting air travel in New Zealand, Australia. The eruptions of the Puyehue volcano, located in Puyehue National Park in the Andes of Ranco Province of Chile have also caused flight delays and cancellations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.