A hundred years of ships and eruptions in Patagonia: addressing the complex interplays between volcanic crises and nautical transport

SALGADO, PABLO AGUSTÍN; VILLAROSA, GUSTAVO; BEIGT, DÉBORA; OUTES, VALERIA; STEWART, CAROL; BARANZINI, FERNANDO

Antigua, Guatemala

Congreso; Cities on Volcanoes 12; 2024

IAVCEI, International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth?s Interior

In December 1921, an explosive eruption of Cordón Caulle volcano (VEI: 3) generated widespread volcanic ashfalls in Chile and Argentina, causing significant damage to Patagonian ships and ports. Since then, various Andean eruptions have been documented as having an impact on shipping in the region. This includes cases as severe as ships capsizing, the total disappearance of entire ports, and numerous setbacks that remain in force because of the remobilization of tephra deposits.While the risks posed by volcanic hazards to other modes of transport are a long-standing and fairly well-known issue, our understanding of the effects of explosive eruptions on shipping remains limited. This is particularly critical for situations where water transport may be required for managing volcanic crises (e.g., evacuation). To address these knowledge gaps, we present the results of our multidisciplinary approach to studying the repercussions of four major volcanic eruptions in Patagonia, including those from the Hudson (1991), Chaitén (2008), Cordón Caulle (2011-2012), and Calbuco (2015) volcanoes.Altogether, we present (1) a systematic catalogue of volcanic ash effects on ships and ports, addressing impacts from primary fallouts and secondary phenomena; (2) a novel volcanic ash impact model for water transport, expanding on available damage and disruption states for critical infrastructure; (3) an overview and effectiveness assessment of mitigation strategies observed; (4) a comprehensive feasibility study for managing volcanic emergencies using water transport resources; and (5) our ongoing experiences in communicating lessons learned to all stakeholders to increase societal resilience to volcanic eruptions.