Volcano Journal Entry

Chaiten Lava Dome Explodes (January 28, 2009)

The lava dome on Chile's Chaiten volcano exploded this week, blasting out huge clouds of ash and steam. The eruption showered ash over a wide area along its slopes. For weeks, scientists have been warning that the volcano was getting ready to erupt again.

In May 2008, Chaiten erupted for the first time in over two thousand years. The eruption spewed hot lava and thick clouds of ash that rose high above the Andes Mountains. The ash showered down on nearby towns, forcing over 7,000 people to flee from their homes. The eruption spread a layer of ash up to 15 inches thick across an area of 60 square miles. Volcanic ash ruined farmland, contaminated drinking water, and endangered 25,000 livestock animals. Dozens of people were treated for eye irritation and breathing troubles. Until now, the volcano had been mostly quiet since the eruption last May.

Chile has more active volcanoes that any other country on the planet except Indonesia. The nation lies in the region where the Nazca tectonic plate subducts or dives below the huge South American plate. Crust from the subducting plate melts and becomes molten magma as it plunges into the hot upper mantle. Eventually, some of the magma makes its way back to the surface through the region's many volcanoes.