Chaitén Volcano - John Seach

John Seach was the first scientist to climb to the summit of Chaiten volcano after the May 2008 eruption.
John made two expeditions to Chaiten volcano in 2008

Chaitén volcano is located in southern Chile, 10 km NE of the town of Chaitén on the Gulf of Corcovado. The volcano contains an obsidian lava dome in a 3.5 km wide caldera. The volcano is occasionally covered with snow, but does not contain a glacier. Two small lakes occupy the caldera floor on the west and north sides of the lava dome.

John Seach climbing to the summit of Chaiten volcano August 2008.
Warning - Climbing Chaiten volcano is currently dangerous and should not be attempted.

John Seach at Chaitén town in July 2008

School damaged by lahars in Chaiten town - John Seach

John Seach at Chaiten volcano, 2008.

The volcano erupted on 2nd May 2008. Ash emissions reached a height of 30 km (100,000 ft) on 6th May. More than 4000 people were evacuated fromnearby villages and the town of Chaiten, 10 km from the volcano, and Futaleufu 70 km southeast. This was the first historical eruption at the volcano. The previous dated eruption was over 9000 years ago. The eruption was possibly triggered by tectonic shifts that opened tear faults and promote magma to rise to the surface.

During a visit to Chaitén volcano in Chile on 9th July, John Seach observed lahar destruction of the town, and ashfall damage to surrounding areas, and pyroclastic flow devastation on the north flank of the volcano. On the north side of the volcano at a location 3 km from the crater, an area of devastated forest was visited. Plinian eruptions, and pyroclastic flows, burnt forest and stripped trees of foliage. An area of 10 sq km on the north side of the crater was completely devoid of vegetation, except for some standing devastated trees. Trees up to a meter in diameter were snapped off at a height of 4 m. Fire had burnt the entire area. The field area consisted of a mixture of standing devastated trees, fallen trees, and deep ash deposits. A sharp distinction was observed between areas of devastated forest and standing untouched forest. Continuous ash fall occurred in Chaitén town. Lahars were reaching the town once per week. Residents were allowed into the town to evacuate possessions and begin the clean up. Residents reported hearing rumbling noises under the town, similar to the sound of running water.

In August 2008 John Seach was the first scientist to climb to summit of Chaiten volcano after the May eruption. The summit crater contained a 120 m high lava dome. Earthquakes were felt at the summit. The lava dome was loudly degassing, and lava boulders avalanched from the dome side to the crater floor. John Seach was the first scientist to climb to summit of Chaiten volcano after the worlds largest rhyolite eruption in 100 years.

Taken from www.volcanolive.com

Summer heat on the rise!

Going by satellite images for the past 1 week... it shows a Showery Srilanka and Northern Bay region (Southern West Bengal).

And there was some scattered electric showers around Southern Tamilnadu and along Southern Western Ghats.

No more threat from the Bay for another 1 month.

Only thing is expected, that is PURE Sunshine, Dusty atmosphere and Wind temperature going up.

Chennai:

Still the Wind temperature is bit cool... that's why afternoon's are not that HOT.

Past week's high temperature was around 33 and 34 deg celcius and low was around 25 deg. That's cool compared to that of temperatures this time past month(February).

Max temperature was expected to go beyond 36 deg, but that did not happen.

Humidity was around 65%.

Some towns in southern India is already experiencing 40 deg... this is not good for Summer and if this continues for another month, then we can expect a early south-west monsoon.

Going by the latest GFS... it shows lot of rain activity again along southern most parts of Tamilnadu and along the southern Western ghats. So these regions are expected to get more afternoon electric showers.