Jebel Zubair volcano (Red Sea, Jemen): satellite image shows growth of new island

New images were released from NASA, showing the rapid growth of a new island in the Zubair archipelago in the Red Sea.
This new satellite image, acquired January 7, 2012, suggests that the eruption has risen nearly completely above water. A plume of steam, other volcanic gases, and ash spews from a distinct cone. The land surrounding the vent has grown, and is now about 530 by 710 meters (1,700 by 2,300 feet) across. Once above water, past eruptions in the Zubair Islands were primarily effusive, with relatively runny lava forming thin lava flows.
In contrast to the fragmented rock that forms when lava interacts directly with water, lava that solidifies on land is tough, so this new island is likely to be permanent.
Compare this to the satellite picture of the same area from 23 December to see the growth of the island (below).

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• NASA Earth Observatory

Zubair volcano (Jemen, Red Sea): New dramatic video shows volcanic eruption

A new dramatic video of the recent volcanic eruption in the Red Sea in the Zubayr group of islands west of Jemen has emerged on youtube. The video was taken from a military helicopter and shows the newly-born island in the highly explosive phase, when magma in contact with sea water lead to very strong steam and ash explosions (so-called surtseyan activity), producing huge ash and steam clouds. Unfortunately, the date of the video is not specified, but it is probably from around 22-23 December.

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• Video of the eruption (youtube)

New island born in the Red Sea at the Zubair archipelago (Jemen)

NASA satellite images show that the eruption in the Red Sea in the Zubair archipelago has produced a new island. The island is circular, about 500 m wide and located about 1 km north of Rugged Island. It consists of fresh probably basaltic lava flows and an active vent seems to be in its center.
A large steam plume, generated by evaporating sea water at the entry of lava flows into the sea is seen on the satellite image, drifting north.
The island has apparently passed through an explosive Surtseyan phase very quickly, probably because the erupting basalt lava was poor in gas and because the output rate was high, so that the vent could be sealed from water access in short time.

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• Volcanic Activity in the Red Sea (NASA Earth Observatory)

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