Impacts of the 2015 eruption of Calbuco volcano on Chilean infrastructure, utilities, agriculture, and health

Abstract

This report presents data and findings from a November-December 2016 reconnaissance trip investigating impacts of the April 2015 eruption of Calbuco volcano, Chile. The study focuses mainly on the Los Lagos region within ~30 km of the volcano, including the town of Puerto Varas and the port city of Puerto Montt. The 2015 eruption began on 22 April 2015 and consisted of three eruptive phases producing eruption columns of up to 17 km and generating pyroclastic density currents; the report notes that eruption impacts and response strategies may be similar for moderate eruptions from other temperate-region stratovolcanoes, making the study useful for contingency planning elsewhere.