Cerro Hudson is a stratovolcano located in Chile at an elevation of 1,905 meters, situated within a subduction zone and continental crust exceeding 25 kilometers in thickness. The official record compiled by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program documents 15 confirmed eruptions spanning from the early Holocene epoch to the 21st century CE. These events range from radiocarbon-dated prehistoric activity to thoroughly observed modern eruptions.
Overview of Recorded Eruptions
The earliest recorded eruption in the Smithsonian dataset is dated to 8010 BCE, determined through uncalibrated radiocarbon isotopic evidence with a year modifier indicating uncertainty. Across the entire catalog of 15 confirmed eruptions, activity has been distributed unevenly across various centuries, including occurrences in the 81st, 50th, 48th, 39th, 23rd, 19th, 8th, and 2nd centuries BCE, as well as the 4th, 9th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries CE.
Not all historical eruptions include complete magnitude data. Out of the 15 confirmed events, the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) has been recorded for 5 events. The largest recorded VEI for Cerro Hudson is 6.0, which is associated with a confirmed eruption starting around 1890 BCE, measured using calibrated radiocarbon evidence.
Recent Historical Activity
In more recent history, eruptions have been documented through direct observation. A notable confirmed eruption occurred in 2011, starting on October 26, 2011, and ending on November 1, 2011. This event involved activity localized at the southern and southeastern edge of the caldera and was assigned a VEI of 2.0 based on reported observations. The profile's last-known eruption year is listed as 2011, with the latest confirmed eruption starting on October 26, 2011.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cerro Hudson located?
Cerro Hudson is a stratovolcano located in Chile, positioned at latitude -45.9 and longitude -72.97 within a subduction zone and continental crust setting.
How many confirmed eruptions does Cerro Hudson have?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program official record confirms 15 eruptions for Cerro Hudson, spanning from 8010 BCE to 2011 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Cerro Hudson?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Cerro Hudson is 6.0, documented from a confirmed eruption around 1890 BCE.
When was the most recent recorded eruption of Cerro Hudson?
The latest confirmed eruption began on October 26, 2011, and concluded on November 1, 2011, with activity occurring on the southern and southeastern edge of the caldera.
Image credits
- NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC. Caption by Robert Simmon. Instrument(s): Terra – MODIS — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.