Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): dramatic changes to both pit craters
Thursday, Aug 7, 2025 | 3 months ago · martin
Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): dramatic changes to caldera and new lava flow
Friday, Jul 18, 2025 | 4 months ago · martin
Following the latest Sentinel-1 acquisition, which carries a synthetic aperture radar onboard, impressive insights have been gained into the caldera that formed during the recent strong explosive erup…Open article
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Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): dangerous explosive activity at summit vents
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025 | 4 months ago · T
A sudden strong explosive eruption has occurred at the summit caldera of the volcano yesterday. Dense ash plumes were seen rising about 800-1000 m above the summit and causing ash fall over the northwestern sector of the volcano.
Reports suggest that lava has returned to the northern pit crater, but …A sudden strong explosive eruption has occurred at the summit caldera of the volcano yesterday. Dense ash plumes were seen rising about 800-1000 m above the summit and causing ash fall over the northwestern sector of the volcano.
Reports suggest that lava has returned to the northern pit crater, but what exactly caused the explosive activity is unclear.
Normally, Erta Ale with its typical fluid basaltic magmas that most often forms lava lakes in the summit crater or extensive lava flows during flank eruptions or overflows from the summit vents is not producing much explosive activity of this type. This means something very unusual is taking place. One possibility is that could be related to c…Open article
Reports suggest that lava has returned to the northern pit crater, but …A sudden strong explosive eruption has occurred at the summit caldera of the volcano yesterday. Dense ash plumes were seen rising about 800-1000 m above the summit and causing ash fall over the northwestern sector of the volcano.
Reports suggest that lava has returned to the northern pit crater, but what exactly caused the explosive activity is unclear.
Normally, Erta Ale with its typical fluid basaltic magmas that most often forms lava lakes in the summit crater or extensive lava flows during flank eruptions or overflows from the summit vents is not producing much explosive activity of this type. This means something very unusual is taking place. One possibility is that could be related to c…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 9 July-15 July 2025 (New Activity / Unrest)
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025 | 4 months ago · VN
Eruptive activity at Erta Ale continued during July based on satellite data and field observations. Small thermal anomalies at both the N and S pit craters were visible in periodic satellite image views on 1, 6, 8, and 11 July. On 15 July a dense black plume rising from an unstated area was filmed b…Eruptive activity at Erta Ale continued during July based on satellite data and field observations. Small thermal anomalies at both the N and S pit craters were visible in periodic satellite image views on 1, 6, 8, and 11 July. On 15 July a dense black plume rising from an unstated area was filmed by a local observer and was thought to have originated from a collapse of a portion of crust covering a lava lake.
A post on social media showed pictures of the plumes and stated that the plumes sank to the ground and spread out over an area of 15 km. Plumes were visible on 16 July.
Sources: Copernicus, Sputnik, Adal state
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Erta Ale (Ethiopia). In: May…Open article
A post on social media showed pictures of the plumes and stated that the plumes sank to the ground and spread out over an area of 15 km. Plumes were visible on 16 July.
Sources: Copernicus, Sputnik, Adal state
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Erta Ale (Ethiopia). In: May…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): lava returns to northern pit crater, elevated activity continues
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 | 6 months ago · martin
A new lava effusion phase commenced at the volcano and is still continuing constantly since 2 April.
Following another shifting flux of magma, the lava returned to the northern pit crater's lava lake, generating incandescent lava flows.
The molten lava has extended towards the northern crater rim, for…Open article
Following another shifting flux of magma, the lava returned to the northern pit crater's lava lake, generating incandescent lava flows.
The molten lava has extended towards the northern crater rim, for…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 15 January-21 January 2025 (Continuing Activity)
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025 | 10 months ago · VN
Satellite images of Erta Ale on 7, 17, and 22 January showed thermal anomalies over the N and S pit crater vent areas.
Source: Copernicus
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Erta Ale (Ethiopia). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 15 January-21 January 2025. Smithsoni…Open article
Source: Copernicus
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2025. Report on Erta Ale (Ethiopia). In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 15 January-21 January 2025. Smithsoni…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia) field report: incredible videos from eruption site
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 | 10 months ago · martin
Following the recent intense effusive activity of the volcano, the local guide and geologist Enku Mulugeta observed the activity at the site from where we were provided first-hand information.
Moderate to vigorous spattering continues, ejecting juvenile and molten lava clots from the large hornito, w…Open article
Moderate to vigorous spattering continues, ejecting juvenile and molten lava clots from the large hornito, w…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): yet another lava batch in southern pit crater
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025 | 10 months ago · martin
The effusive eruption at the volcano continues to be elevated.
Another surge of lava formed in the southern pit crater on 12 January as detected in the satellite imagery. The latest Sentinel-2 false color acquisition registered a strong thermal anomaly indicating lava overflows in the southeastern di…Open article
Another surge of lava formed in the southern pit crater on 12 January as detected in the satellite imagery. The latest Sentinel-2 false color acquisition registered a strong thermal anomaly indicating lava overflows in the southeastern di…Open article
Erta Ale (Ethiopia) volcano - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 25 December-31 December 2024 (Continuing Activity)
Thursday, Jan 2, 2025 | 10 months ago · VN
Eruptive activity continued at Erta Ale during December based on satellite data and a field excursion. Satellite images on 8 and 13 December showed a small thermal anomaly over a vent in the S Pit Crater and a smaller one over a second vent 85 m to the NW. According to a news article a local tour gu…Eruptive activity continued at Erta Ale during December based on satellite data and a field excursion. Satellite images on 8 and 13 December showed a small thermal anomaly over a vent in the S Pit Crater and a smaller one over a second vent 85 m to the NW. According to a news article a local tour guide visited the area on 16 December and described “glowing rivers flowing from the southern crater”.
The two thermal anomalies and additional hot areas were present in an 18 December satellite image. The thermal anomaly pattern suggested that lava from one of the vents had flowed in between them and about 200 m SSW. A more pronounced flow, possibly from the NW vent, traveled about 100 m NW and then…Open article
The two thermal anomalies and additional hot areas were present in an 18 December satellite image. The thermal anomaly pattern suggested that lava from one of the vents had flowed in between them and about 200 m SSW. A more pronounced flow, possibly from the NW vent, traveled about 100 m NW and then…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): new lava flow in southern pit crater
Thursday, Dec 19, 2024 | 11 months ago · martin
A new lava effusion phase began at the volcano.
A new batch of lava arrived in the southern pit crater. The elevated activity was identified in the latest Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 18 December, revealing a strong glow in the NIR (near-infrared) composite. The lava continues to spill out from …Open article
A new batch of lava arrived in the southern pit crater. The elevated activity was identified in the latest Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 18 December, revealing a strong glow in the NIR (near-infrared) composite. The lava continues to spill out from …Open article
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Erta Ale volcano (Ethiopia): violent lava overflow episode from summit vent
Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024 | 13 months ago · T
Erta Ale (Ethiopia) volcano - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 18 September-24 September 2024 (Continuing Activity)
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024 | 14 months ago · VN
A 14 September satellite image of Erta Ale showed an oval-shaped thermal anomaly just N of the N pit crater, possibly indicative of an active lava flow. The anomaly was absent in a 19 September image. Small thermal anomalies were visible over both the N and S pit craters in 14, 19, and 24 September …Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia) field report: outpouring lava flows feed growing southern lava lake
Tuesday, Aug 6, 2024 | 15 months ago · martin
Our local geologist and guide for VolcanoDiscovery Ethiopia, Enku Mulugeta, carried out a field observation of the volcano in late July to provide information about the ongoing elevated effusive activity.
In the southern pit crater area, pulsating lava fountains continue from a chain of at least fiv…Open article
In the southern pit crater area, pulsating lava fountains continue from a chain of at least fiv…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): eruption continues with lava flows from southern pit crater
Monday, Aug 5, 2024 | 15 months ago · martin
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): intense lava flow eruption in southern pit crater, lava sheet advances toward south-southeast
Monday, Jul 22, 2024 | 16 months ago · martin
The effusive eruption at the volcano continues at elevated levels over the past month.
In late June, the Sentinel-2 acquisition on 26 June detected a strong thermal radiation in the northern pit crater, suggesting the new lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. Following several…The effusive eruption at the volcano continues at elevated levels over the past month.
In late June, the Sentinel-2 acquisition on 26 June detected a strong thermal radiation in the northern pit crater, suggesting the new lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. Following several days, on 1 July (as seen in the attached animation), the lava reached the western crater terrace. After several days, magma stopped feeding the hornito in the northern pit crater and the eruption halted.
However, the volcano soon entered another effusive phase. This time, a new batch of magma, intruding through the dike system underneath, arrived in the southern pit crater on 11 July. From the av…Open article
In late June, the Sentinel-2 acquisition on 26 June detected a strong thermal radiation in the northern pit crater, suggesting the new lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. Following several…The effusive eruption at the volcano continues at elevated levels over the past month.
In late June, the Sentinel-2 acquisition on 26 June detected a strong thermal radiation in the northern pit crater, suggesting the new lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. Following several days, on 1 July (as seen in the attached animation), the lava reached the western crater terrace. After several days, magma stopped feeding the hornito in the northern pit crater and the eruption halted.
However, the volcano soon entered another effusive phase. This time, a new batch of magma, intruding through the dike system underneath, arrived in the southern pit crater on 11 July. From the av…Open article
Erta Ale volcano - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 26 June-2 July 2024 (Continuing Activity)
Wednesday, Jul 3, 2024 | 16 months ago · VN
Thermal anomalies in a 1 July satellite image of Erta Ale suggested activity at a vent in the N pit crater and a lava flow that traveled about 320 m SSW.
Source: Copernicus
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2024. Report on Erta Ale. In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 26 June-2 Jul…Open article
Source: Copernicus
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2024. Report on Erta Ale. In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 26 June-2 Jul…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): renewed lava flow eruption in northern pit crater
Thursday, Jun 27, 2024 | 17 months ago · martin
A new lava effusion phase began at the volcano.
Following another shifting flux of magma, the lava resumed in the northern pit crater's hornito recently, generating the lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. The lava continues to spill out towards the southwestern crater rim, c…Open article
Following another shifting flux of magma, the lava resumed in the northern pit crater's hornito recently, generating the lava overflow to the south-southwest of the main lava source. The lava continues to spill out towards the southwestern crater rim, c…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia) field report: yet another lava sequence in northern pit crater
Friday, May 10, 2024 | 1 year ago · martin
The activity has been picking up at the volcano again over the past few days.
On 5 May, a new effusive sequence commenced within the northern pit crater, notably marked by a robust thermal signature detected in the Landsat 8-9 satellite image. The lava, resulting from a new magma batch, commenced to …The activity has been picking up at the volcano again over the past few days.
On 5 May, a new effusive sequence commenced within the northern pit crater, notably marked by a robust thermal signature detected in the Landsat 8-9 satellite image. The lava, resulting from a new magma batch, commenced to spill out from the sizable hornito, travelling towards the north. The molten lava seems to have extended beyond the northern rim of the northern pit crater, forming the lava sheet flow.
Meanwhile, a new lava arm started to advance southward approaching the western caldera rim. See the attached Sentinel-2 satellite image from 7 May. The lava has been oozing out from the particular hornito in the nor…Open article
On 5 May, a new effusive sequence commenced within the northern pit crater, notably marked by a robust thermal signature detected in the Landsat 8-9 satellite image. The lava, resulting from a new magma batch, commenced to …The activity has been picking up at the volcano again over the past few days.
On 5 May, a new effusive sequence commenced within the northern pit crater, notably marked by a robust thermal signature detected in the Landsat 8-9 satellite image. The lava, resulting from a new magma batch, commenced to spill out from the sizable hornito, travelling towards the north. The molten lava seems to have extended beyond the northern rim of the northern pit crater, forming the lava sheet flow.
Meanwhile, a new lava arm started to advance southward approaching the western caldera rim. See the attached Sentinel-2 satellite image from 7 May. The lava has been oozing out from the particular hornito in the nor…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia) field report: new hornito has triggered lava overflow towards northern caldera
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | 1 year ago · martin
We were given first-hand information from our expedition leader, geologist and local guide, Enku Mulugeta from VolcanoDiscovery Ethiopia, about an increased activity at the volcano over the past three days.
On 22 April, a significant lava overflow occurred from the southern pit crater, traveling towa…Open article
On 22 April, a significant lava overflow occurred from the southern pit crater, traveling towa…Open article
Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): new lava flow in northern pit crater
Saturday, Apr 13, 2024 | 1 year ago · martin
A month after the recent lava overflow in the southern pit crater, a new batch of lava arrived in the northern pit crater this time.
The elevated activity has been identified in the latest Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 12 April, revealing a strong glow in the NIR (near-infrared) composite. This …Open article
The elevated activity has been identified in the latest Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 12 April, revealing a strong glow in the NIR (near-infrared) composite. This …Open article
