Fermi Problem: Power developed at the eruption of the Puyehue-Cord\'on Caulle volcanic system in June 2011

TL;DR

This paper estimates the power released during the 2011 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption using a Fermi problem approach, providing educational insights and contextual comparisons for students learning about volcanic energy.

Contribution

It introduces a pedagogic method for estimating volcanic eruption power through a Fermi problem, involving student participation and contextual analysis.

Findings

Estimated eruption power in the order of gigawatts.

Comparison of eruption energy with everyday power sources.

Educational value in teaching volcanic energy concepts.

Abstract

On June 4 2011 the Puyehue-Cord\'{o}n Caulle volcanic system produced a pyroclastic subplinian eruption reaching level 3 in the volcanic explosivity index. The first stage of the eruption released sand and ashes that affected small towns and cities in the surrounding areas, including San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina, one of the largest cities in the North Patagonian andean region. By treating the eruption as a Fermi problem, we estimated the volume and mass of sand ejected as well as the energy and power released during the eruptive phase. We then put the results in context by comparing the obtained values with everyday quantities, like the load of a cargo truck or the electric power produced in Argentina. These calculations have been done as a pedagogic exercise, and after evaluation of the hypothesis was done in the classroom, the calculations have been performed by the students. These are students of the first physics course at the Physics and Chemistry Teacher Programs of the Universidad Nacional de R\'{\i}o Negro.