Llaima eruption from space

Llaima in Chile, taken on April 9, 2009. Image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.

The NASA Earth Observatory (currently celebrating its 10th year) has posted a number of great images of the current eruption of Llaima in Chile, taken from Earth Observing-1 and Terra Satellites. They show both the ash plume of the eruption and the lava flows associated with it (above). The image here is a false-color image of Llaima, where the bright red/orange is the lava flow from the volcano, along with the dark brown of the ash/rocks from this and previous eruptions.

The eruption itself might continue to be hindered by a blocking of the vent from the tephra erupted so far, which as added 70 meters / 230 feet to the volcano’s height. This eruption has threatened paths, roads and waterways around the volcano (in spanish). Most appear to be OK so far, but Alejandro Vio of the SERNAGEOMIN warns that possible lahars might cause the most damage to infrastructure near the volcano. Authorities will also be bringing in 16 tons of food (in spanish) for domesticated animals that live near the volcano and are having their food source contaminated by the ash fall.