IMPACTS OF PUYEHUE CORDON CAULLE VOLCANIC COMPLEX RECENT ERUPTION IN NAHUEL HUAPI NATIONAL PARK (PATAGONIA ARGENTINA)

Transcription

1 IMPACTS OF PUYEHUE CORDON CAULLE VOLCANIC COMPLEX RECENT ERUPTION IN NAHUEL HUAPI NATIONAL PARK (PATAGONIA ARGENTINA) Maria de la Paloma Martínez Fernández1,3 ndez1,3 & Elizabeth Ivonne Rovere2,3 1 Lantel, Universidad Nacional del Comahue 2 SEGEMAR, Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino, Dirección n de Geología a Regional, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3 GEVAS Grupo de Estudio de Volcanes Ambiente y Sociedad

2 Neuquen province: Nahuel Huapi National Park Villa la Angostura district

3 Puyehue Vn Angostura V. Cordon Caulle Villa la Angostura: 50 km

4 Nahuel Huapi ( ha) is one of the most visited parks in Argentina, with annual visitors. Villa la Angostura, with inhabitants, receives tourist during the year, which also visit Arrayanes National Park (1.753 ha), in Quetrihue peninsula.

5 The Park protects the andean forest and patagonian steppe. In Angostura prevails the Nothofagus forest (dombeyi, obliqua, nervosa, pumilio, antarctica)

6 Tourist activities Trekking Ski Observation of nature Fishing Hunting Business tourism Pudu pudu, the smallest deer

7 4/6/2011: Chilean Puyehue Cordon Caulle complex erupted Stratovolcan with a main crater of 2km diameter (VN Puyehue, m), and fisural volcanism over a NW SE rift of 17 km, with about 14 domic holocenic centers (less than years)

8 Ash plume crossing the country (Nasa 6/6/11)

9 13/6/11 plume from west to east, 780 km Last Last eruption was in 1960, when the population of the town and sorroundings was less than 800 people.

10 The current population was not prepared for such event Mendoza 1932,Vn Descabezado

11 In town at first the authorities distributed water and chinstraps The information was contradictory, Civil defense warned about the risks but the government minimized them. It was an electoral time so there was a great confusion. This situation attempted against a proper organization.

12 Puyehue plume evolution 05 Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul 11 Nivel de Alerta Nivel 6 - Rojo Erupción moderada Nivel 5 - Rojo Erupción moderada Nivel 5 Rojo Erupción moderada Puyehue activity persisted 8 months

13 IMPACTS Vegetation (specially exotic species)

14 Landscape

15 Soil Entrance to Arrayanes NP (Villa la Angostura) Evolution of the soil from ashes along last years

16 Animal behaviour Livestock (21 % lost)

17 Streams and lakes Lapilli floating on Espejo lake (October 2011)

18 Angostura river : fly casting best place

19 Clearing up streams of branches that became dams for the ashes.

20 Risk of lahars

21 ARROYO COLORADO ARROYO FLORENCIA RÍO BONITO ARROYO UBELDI ARROYO MANZANO

22 Impacts on society and infrastructure

23 3.000 people abandoned the town, mostly for ever What about sense of belonging?? Economic impact : lack of visitors in winter and summer. (U$s 37 millions) Hotels and others services closed. Lack of job sources. Health problems. Exodus of population Psychological inestability

24 Impact on tourism activity

25 Cerro Bayo Ski center

26 Different studies on nature: Probably positive impact on regeneration of vegetation (Arrayanes) Impact on fishes (salmonids introduced in early XX century) Risk of lahars (slopes, forest and population down the streams) Water quality Patologies related to the the ashes in atmosphere.

27 A study of UBA stands out that during the winter months in 2011, the solar radiation arriving received by the vegetation diminished 85 % However, the plants grew very fast and strong in spring. The native species are surely adapted to this kind of events. In long term the environment recovers

28 March 2012

29 Facing the future It is necessary to make an integral assesment. People must be educated to understand the natural processes of the environment, and its interaction with human interventions. Emergency planning must be done in colaboration with all the people involved: Authorities, teachers, tourist operators, park guards, civil defense, citizens and

30 Considering volcanic events as an opportunity Geotourism has not been considered as good as ecotourism so far. It s necessary to make intepretive tours better. The region has a great potencial (glacier valleys, volcanic geoformes) to improve this kind of sustainable tourism, which could help in environmental education. Even rural tourism could help farmers to recover from their loses and begin to diversify their sources of income.

31 Thank you! Río Bonito fall Picaflor rubi Green backed Firecrown