On 25 October 2025, a massive ash column from the Planchon-Petroa volcano reached a height of 600 metres, stretching from Chile to the Argentine border. ESA’s Sentinel-2 space cameras captured the event, with the ash cloud appearing brighter against the snow-covered landscape.
The ash cloud initially spread northwest before changing direction and heading into Argentina due to a shift in wind. As this volcanic complex is forested and difficult to access, space imagery is essential for monitoring activity, ash distribution, and environmental impacts. The snow-covered landscape makes it easier to spot the ash cloud and track its movement.
The movement of ash from Chile to Argentina shows that natural phenomena do not respect borders, underscoring the importance of international monitoring systems such as Copernicus for security and environmental protection.
