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  NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC.

As the eruption of Puyehue Cordón Caulle wanes, life is returning to normal in nearby communities. The Buenos Aires Herald reported that the first domestic aircraft landed at Bariloche, Argentina, in more than three months on September 17, 2011. Bariloche is an Andean town about 60 kilometers southeast of the eruption center. At the time, winds blew the ash plume from Puyehue Cordón Caulle towards the northwest, away from the town. An airport spokesperson expects future traffic to be dependent on the weather.

This natural-color satellite image shows Puyehue Cordón Caulle and the surrounding area at roughly local noon on September 17. A pale plume of volcanic gas and ash streams to the northwest from the active vent. The September 15 status report from the Chilean National Service of Geology and Mining (SERNAGEOMIN) stated that the eruption continued at a low level.

1. References

2. Buenos Aires Herald. (2011, September 17). Plane lands at Bariloche airport after months of inactivity. Accessed September 19, 2011.
3. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería. (2011, September 15). Reporte Especial de Actividad Volcánica No 138 Complejo Volcánico Puyehue-Cordón Caulle. Accessed September 19, 2011.

Images & Animations

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• Database Updated: May 7, 2013