Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:54 amBlood-red skies heading our way
The fearsome volcanic eruption in Chile has spawned a spectacular lightning show and should bring blood-red skies to New Zealand.
Thousands of Chileans fled their homes after the previously dormant Chaiten volcano, near the border with Argentina, erupted two days ago, spewing ash and lava. GNS Science senior geophysicist Tony Hurst said the lightning show was the result of tiny ash particles colliding and creating static electricity. "Eventually, the entire cloud turns into a colossal battery and the electricity is discharged as a gigantic spark." Dr Hurst said Kiwis were likely to see some evidence of the eruption because Chile was on a similar latitude to New Zealand, but the effects would be limited to red skies at dusk, caused by ash particles suspended high in the stratosphere, scattering red light.
The red skies might take a week to appear in New Zealand, as the ash was travelling east from Chile, and would have to pass over South Africa and Australia to get here.
Dr Hurst said the eruption was a timely reminder of the power of the dormant volcanoes scattered across New Zealand.
It is thought the Chaiten volcano may have been dormant for thousands of years, though historical records are sketchy. "All over the Taupo volcanic area, a lot of them are a few thousand years old. It's not a rare thing for a volcano that no one has ever heard of to suddenly erupt."
The enormous, slow-moving plume of ash spread over Argentinian skiresort Bariloche, 230 kilometres northeast of the volcano, and ash particles were found as far away as Mar del Plata, 1600km to the east.
Authorities were worried airborne ash particles might reach Buenos Aires, raising health concerns for about eight million people. Chile's National Emergency Office said people had been moved from a 30km radius of the volcano.
Should make for some good photography!
The fearsome volcanic eruption in Chile has spawned a spectacular lightning show and should bring blood-red skies to New Zealand.
Thousands of Chileans fled their homes after the previously dormant Chaiten volcano, near the border with Argentina, erupted two days ago, spewing ash and lava. GNS Science senior geophysicist Tony Hurst said the lightning show was the result of tiny ash particles colliding and creating static electricity. "Eventually, the entire cloud turns into a colossal battery and the electricity is discharged as a gigantic spark." Dr Hurst said Kiwis were likely to see some evidence of the eruption because Chile was on a similar latitude to New Zealand, but the effects would be limited to red skies at dusk, caused by ash particles suspended high in the stratosphere, scattering red light.
The red skies might take a week to appear in New Zealand, as the ash was travelling east from Chile, and would have to pass over South Africa and Australia to get here.
Dr Hurst said the eruption was a timely reminder of the power of the dormant volcanoes scattered across New Zealand.
It is thought the Chaiten volcano may have been dormant for thousands of years, though historical records are sketchy. "All over the Taupo volcanic area, a lot of them are a few thousand years old. It's not a rare thing for a volcano that no one has ever heard of to suddenly erupt."
The enormous, slow-moving plume of ash spread over Argentinian skiresort Bariloche, 230 kilometres northeast of the volcano, and ash particles were found as far away as Mar del Plata, 1600km to the east.
Authorities were worried airborne ash particles might reach Buenos Aires, raising health concerns for about eight million people. Chile's National Emergency Office said people had been moved from a 30km radius of the volcano.
Should make for some good photography!
