Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Risk Assessment and Mitigation at Copahue Volcano

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Copahue Volcano

Part of the book series: Active Volcanoes of the World ((AVOLCAN))

Abstract

“Risk assessment” is a relatively new concept in Argentina, since the very first hazard map was only recently constructed on the basis of the 1992 eruption of Copahue volcano (Patagonia). Copahue is considered a very active volcanic system since 13 eruptive events have been recognized over the last 260 years. Most the events are phreatic and phreato-magmatic with VEI ≤ 2; nevertheless such eruptions represent a threat for the communities living in the surrounding areas of the emission centre, not only because of pyroclastic flows and tephra fall (the nearby villages, Caviahue and Copahue, have so far only experienced ash fallout), but also due to the possible formation of mud flows and flank collapse triggered by the volcanic activity. Owing to the frequent eruptions of Copahue, the most recent ones (2000, 2012) showed an increasing explosive character, hazard survey actions, such as thematic maps and contingency plans are constantly, though slowly, modified. The risk assessment described in this chapter calls for the implementation of the monitoring network in the Argentina side of the volcano, since the only currently active seismic stations (OVDAS) are located in the Chilean side of the volcanic edifice, Copahue volcano lying at the border between the two countries. Moreover, the Chilean observatory adopts criteria of alert levels, which are distinctly different with respect to those of Argentina Civil Defense, producing misleading information to the population. The villages of Copahue and Caviahue are regarded as extremely vulnerable to possible future eruptions if larger magnitude events should occur. A review of the presently available potential hazard map, an improvement of people’s education about the volcanic risks and a more interactive cooperation between the Chilean and Argentina scientific and administrative institutions are some of the immediate countermeasures to be taken into account before a new explosive phase at Copahue.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 149.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agusto M, Caselli A, Tassi F, dos Santos Afonso M, Vaselli O (2012) Caracterización y seguimiento geoquímico de las aguas ácidas del sistema volcán Copahue - río Agrio: posible aplicación para la identificación de precursores eruptivos. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 69(4):481–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Agusto M, Tassi F, Caselli AT, Vaselli O, Rouwet D, Capaccioni B, Caliro S, Chiodini G, Darrah T (2013) The geochemical and isotopic evolution of the hydrothermal-magmatic system of the Copahue-Caviahue Volcanic Complex (Argentina): evidence for a new unrest phase. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 257:44–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarado GE, Soto GJ, Schmincke HU, Bolge LL, Sumita M (2006) The 1968 andesitic lateral blast eruption at Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 157:9–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bean C, Lokmer I, O’Brien G (2008) Influence of near-surface volcanic structure on long-period seismic signals and on moment tensor inversions: simulated examples from Mount Etna. J Geophys Res 113:B08308. doi:10.1029/2007JB005468

    Google Scholar 

  • Bermúdez A, Delpino D (1995) Mapa de los Peligros Potenciales en el área del Volcán Copahue Sector Argentino. Serie Mapas de Riesgo Geológico. Servicio Geológico Neuquino. Neuquén

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitschene PR, Menida J (1995) The august 1991 eruption of the Hudson Volcano (Patagonian Andes): a thousand days after. Cuvillier Verlag, Gottingen, Germany, pp 2–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Baubron J-C, Allardzy P, Sabroux JC, Tedesco D, Toutal JP (1991) Soil gas emanations as precursory indicators of volcanic eruptions. J Geol Soc London 148:571–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caselli AT, Agusto M, Fazio A (2005) Cambios térmicos y geoquímicos del lago cratérico del volcán Copahue (Neuquén): posibles variaciones cíclicas del sistema volcánico. In: XVI Congreso Geológico Argentino, La Plata, Argentina, 751–756

    Google Scholar 

  • Caselli A, Vélez ML, Agusto MR, Bengoa CL, Euillades PA, Ibáñez JM (2009) Copahue volcano (Argentina): a relationship between ground deformation, seismic activity and geochemical changes. In: Bean CJ, Braiden AK, Lockmer I, Martini F, O’Brien GS (eds) The, vol Project., Volcanoes: Understanding subsurface mass movementJaycee Printing, Dublin, Ireland, pp 309–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecioni A, Alfaro G, Pincheira M, Pineda V, Arce M, Cares R, Reyes M, Valenzuela G, Melnick D (2000) Elaboración de mapas zonificados de peligrosidad volcánica. INGENDESA S.A. (not published), Universidad de Concepción, pp 250

    Google Scholar 

  • Caracausi A, Favara R, Giammanco S, Italiano F, Nuccio PM, Paonita A, Pecoraino G, Rizzo A (2003) Mount Etna: geochemical signals of magma ascent and unusually extensive plumbing system. Geophys Res Lett 30(2):1057. doi:10.1029/2002GL015463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carapezza ML, Inguaggiato S, Brusca L, Longo M (2004) Geochemical precursors of the activity of an open-conduit volcano: the Stromboli 2002–2003 eruptive events. Geophys Res Lett v 31:l07620. doi:10.1029/2004gl019614

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll MR, Webster JD (1994) Solubilities of sulfur, noble gases, nitrogen, chlorine and fluorine in magmas. In: Carroll MR, Halloway JR (eds) Volatiles in Magmas Rev Mineral vol 30, pp 231–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Caselli A, Agusto M, Capaccioni B, Tassi F, Chiodini y G, Tardani, D (2012) Aumento térmico y composicional de las aguas cratéricas del Volcán Copahue registradas durante el año 2012 (Neuquen, Argentina). XIII Congreso Geológico Chileno. Antofagasta, 2012. Actas: 441–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouet B (1996) Long-period volcano seismicity: its source and use in eruption forecasting. Nature 380:309–316. doi:10.1038/380309a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delpino D, Bermúdez A (1993) La actividad volcánica del volcán Copahue durante 1992. Erupción con emisión de azufre piroclástico. Provincia de Neuquén. In: XII Congreso Geológico Argentino, Menzoda, Argentina, vol 4, pp 292–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Delpino D, Bermúdez A (1994) Volcanismo post-glacial en el volcan Copahue (37°45’S) sector argentino. Peligros potenciales asociados. In: VII Congreso Geologico Chileno, Puerto Varas, Chile, vol 1, pp 260–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Delpino DH, Bermúdez AM (2002) La erupción del volcán Copahue del año 2000. Impacto social y al medio natural. Provincia del Neuquén. Argentina. Proceed. XV Congreso Geológico Argentino 3:365–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Girolamo P, Ghiara MR, Lirer L, Munno R, Rolandi G, Stanzione D (1984) Vulcanologia e petrologia dei Campi Flegrei. Boll Soc Geol Ital 103(34):9–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Druitt TH, Kokelaabr P (eds) (2002) The eruption of SoufriGre hills volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999. Geol Soc London Mem 21:517–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon JE, Stolper E (1995) An experimental study of water and carbon dioxide solubilities in mid-ocean ridge basaltic liquids. PART II: applications to degassing. J Petrol 36:1633–1646

    Google Scholar 

  • Dzierma Y (2010) Wehrmann H (2010) Statistical eruption forecast for the Chilean Southern Volcanic Zone: typical probabilities of volcanic eruptions as baseline for possibly enhanced activity following the large. Concepcion Earthquake Nat Haz Earth Syst Sci 10:2093–2108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dzierma Y, Wehrmann H (2012) On the likelihood of future eruptions in the Chilean Southern Volcanic Zone: interpreting the past century’s eruption record based on statistical analyses. Andean Geol 39(3):380–393

    Google Scholar 

  • Dzurisin D (2006) Volcano deformation. Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49302-0_5

    Google Scholar 

  • Folguera A, Ramos VA (2000) Control estructural del volcán Copahue (38 ° S–71 ° O): implicancias tectónicas para el arco volcánico cuaternario (36°–39° S). Rev Asoc Geol Arg 55:229–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Haynes K, Jenni Barclay J, Pidgeon N (2007) Volcanic hazard communication using maps: an evaluation of their effectiveness. Bull Volcanol 70(2):123–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibañez JM, Del Pezzo E, Bengoa CL, Caselli AT, Badi G, Almendros J (2008) Volcanic tremor and local earthquakes at Copahue volcanic complex, southern Andes, Argentina. J Volcanol Geoth Res 174:284–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavigne F, Thouretb B, Voightc H, Suwad A, Sumaryono A (2000) Lahars at Merapi volcano, Central Java: an overview. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:423–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lirer L, Vitelli L (1998) Volcanic risk assessment and mapping in the Vesuvian area using GIS. Nat Haz 17:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowenstern JB, Smith RB, Hill DP (2006) Monitoring super-volcanoes: geophysical and geochemical signals at Yellowstone and other large caldera systems. Phil Trans R Soc A 364:2055–2072. doi:10.1098/rsta.2006.1813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoni MM, Licitra D (2000) Significado estratigráfico y volcanológico de ignimbritas neógenas con composición intermedia en la zona del lago Caviahue. Neuquén Rev Asoc Geol Arg 55(3):188–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Macedonio G, Costa A, Folch A (2008) Ash fallout scenarios at Vesuvius: numerical simulations and implications for hazard assessment. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 178:366–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melnick D, Folguera A, Ramos VA (2006) Structural control on arc volcanism: the Copahue-Agrio complex, South-Central Andes (37º50′S). J South Am Earth Sci 22:66–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naranjo J, Moreno H, Polanco E, Young S (2000) Mapa de peligros de los volcanes del Alto Biobio. Regiones del BioBio y de la Araucanía. Documento de trabajo N°15. Servicio de Geología y Minería de Chile. ISSN:0717-277X

    Google Scholar 

  • Naranjo JA, Polanco E (2004) The 2000 AD eruption of Copahue Volcano. Southern Andes. Rev Geol Chile 31(2):279–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Neri A, Aspinall WP, Cioni R, Bertagnini A, Baxter PJ, Zuccaro G, Andronico D, Barsotti S, Cole PD, Esposti O, Hincks TK, Macedonio G, Papale P, Rosi M, Santacroce R, Woo G (2008) Developing an event tree for probabilistic hazard and risk assessment at Vesuvius. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 178:397–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuberg J, Pointer T (2000) Effects of volcano topography on seismic broadband waveforms. Geophys J Int 143:239–248. doi:10.1046/j.1365-246x.2000.00251.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oramas-Dorta D, Cole PD, Wadge G, Alvarado GE, Soto GJ (2012) Pyroclastic flow hazard at Arenal volcano, Costa Rica: scenarios and assessment. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 247–248:74–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parra E, Cepeda H (1990) Volcanic hazard maps of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. Colombia J Volcanol Geotherm Res 42:117–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pasternack GB, Varekamp JC (1997) Volcanic lake systematics I. Physical constraints. Bull Volcanol 58:528–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pesce A (1989) Evolución volcano-tectónica del complejo efusivo Copahue-Caviahue y su modelo geotérmico preliminar. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 44:307–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Perucca L, Moreiras S, Bracco A (2009) Determination of seismogenic structures and earthquake magnitud from seismites in Holocene lacustrine deposits. Precordillera Range, Central-Western Argentina. J Iberian Geol:10–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrinovic IA (2008) Variaciones en el régimen de flujo en depósitos de oleadas piroclásticas del volcán Copahue, Neuquén. In: XVII Congreso Geologico Argentino, Jujuy, Argentina, vol 3, 1379–1380

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard ME, Simons M (2004) An InSAR-based survey of volcanic deformation in the southern Andes. Geophys Res Lett 31:L15610. doi:10.1029/2004GL020545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polanco E, Naranjo JA, Young S, Mareno H (2000) Volcanismo explosivo holoceno en la cuenca del alto biobio, Andes del sur (37°45′38°30′). In: X Congreso Geologico Chileno, Puerto Varas, Chile

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojas Vera E, Folguera A, Spagnuolo M, Gimenez M, Ruiz F, Martinez P, Ramos V (2009) La neotectonica del arco volcanico a la latitud del volcan Copahue (38°S), andes de Neuquen. Rev Aso Geol Arg 65(1):204–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Sano Y, Nakamura Y, Notsu K, Wakita H (1988) Influence of volcanic eruptions on helium isotope ratios in hydrothermal systems. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:1305–1308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sruoga P, Guerstein PY, Bermúdez A (1993) Riesgo volcánico. In: Ramos VA (ed) Geología y Recursos Naturales de Mendoza. Parte III: Geología Ambiental y Riesgo Geológico, pp 659–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Sruoga P, y Consoli VC (2011) Volcán Copahue. In: En Leanza H, Arregui C, Carbone O, Danieli J, y Vallés J (eds) Geología y Recursos Naturales de la provincia del Neuquén. Relatorio del 18° Congreso Geológico. Argentino, Buenos Aires, pp 609–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassi F, Vaselli O, Capaccioni B, Macias JL, Nencetti A, Montegrossi G, Magro G (2003) Chemical composition of fumarolic gases and spring discharges from El Chichon volcano, Mexico: causes and implications of the changes detected over the period 1998–2000. Special Issue of J Volcanol Geoth Res 123:105–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaselli O, Tassi F, Duarte E, Fernández E, Poreda RJ, Delgado Huertas A (2010) Evolution of fluid geochemistry at the Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) from 1998 to 2008. Bull Volcanol 72(4):397–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varekamp CJ, deMoor M, Merrill MD, Colvin AS, Goss AR (2006) Geochemistry and isotopic characteristic of the Caviahue-Copahue volcanic complex, Province of Neuquén, Argentina. In: Kay SM, Ramos VA (eds) Evolution of an Andean margin: a tectonic and magmatic review from the Andes to the Neuquén Basin (35°–39 °S). Geol Soc Am Special Paper 407:317–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Varekamp J, Ouimette A, Hermán S, Bermúdez A, Delpino D (2001) Hydrothermal element fluxes from Copahue, Argentina: a “beehive” volcano in turmoil. Geology 29(11):1059–1062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varekamp JC, Ouimette AP, Herman SW, Flynn KS, Bermudez A, Delpino D (2009) Naturally acid waters from Copahue volcano, Argentina. Appl Geochem 24:208–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Velez ML, Euillades P, Caselli A, Blanco M, y Martínez Díaz J (2011) Deformation of Copahue volcano: Inversion of InSAR data using a genetic algorithm. J Volcanol Geoth Res 202(1–2):117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Zobin VM (2012) Introduction to volcanic seismology, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam-New York-Tokyo, p 482

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LESVA, IIPG, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Roca 1242, 8332, General Roca, Argentina

    A. T. Caselli

  2. GESVA - IDEAN (UBA-CONICET), Dpto. Cs. Geológicas, FCEN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428, Ciudad Universitaria, Pab.2, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    C. Liccioli

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, (IGG-CNR), Via La Pira, 4, Florence, Italy

    F. Tassi

Authors
  1. A. T. Caselli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Liccioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Tassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. T. Caselli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Franco Tassi

  2. Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Orlando Vaselli

  3. National University of Rio Negro, General Roca, Rio Negro, Argentina

    Alberto Tomas Caselli

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Caselli, A.T., Liccioli, C., Tassi, F. (2016). Risk Assessment and Mitigation at Copahue Volcano. In: Tassi, F., Vaselli, O., Caselli, A. (eds) Copahue Volcano. Active Volcanoes of the World. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48005-2_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation