Volcano monitoring and hazard assessments in Chile

Abstract

Volcanism in Chile occurs in a variety of tectonic settings but mostly in the context of oceanic-continental plate collision, including 92 potentially active volcanoes. There have been more than 30 documented eruptions in the last few centuries. The Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) is a statutory agency of the Government of Chile responsible for volcano monitoring and hazard assessments across the country. After the impacts derived from volcanic activity at the end of the 20th century, SERNAGEOMIN created the Volcano Hazards Program and the Observatorio Volcanológico de Los Andes del Sur (OVDAS). Despite this effort, most volcanoes in Chile remained unmonitored. In 2008, the aftermath of the eruption of Chaitén led to a nationwide program in order to improve eruption forecasting, development of early warning capabilities and our state of readiness for volcanic impacts through hazard assessments. In the last decade responses to volcanic crises have been indubitably successful providing technical advice before and during volcanic eruptions.