The Toulouse VAAC reported that an ash plume from Ol Doinyo Lengai was observed by visiting scientists on 29 December and rose to an unreported altitude.
The Toulouse VAAC reported that an ash plume from Ol Doinyo Lengai was observed by visiting scientists on 20 December and rose to an unreported altitude.
Wed, 12 Dec 2007, 06:00
Based on information from the Tanzania MVO and pilot reports, the Toulouse VAAC reported that an ash plume from Ol Doinyo Lengai rose to an altitude of 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. on 13 December.
Read allThu, 15 Nov 2007, 08:43
Based on information from the Tanzania MVO, the Toulouse VAAC reported that Ol Doinyo Lengai erupted on 7 November and remained active. According to Frederick Belton's website, an observer saw a "smoke" plume rise to an altitude of 3.2-3.5 km (10,500-11,500 ft) a.s.l. and drift WSW towards the Gol Mountains on 10 November.
Wed, 7 Nov 2007, 06:00
Based on information from the Tanzania MVO, the Toulouse VAAC reported that Ol Doinyo Lengai erupted on 7 November and remained active. According to Frederick Belton's website, an observer saw a "smoke" plume rise to an altitude of 3.2-3.5 km (10,500-11,500 ft) a.s.l. and drift WSW towards the Gol Mountains on 10 November.
Read allWed, 31 Oct 2007, 21:36
New photos from Ol Doinyo Lengai by Tim Leach about three weeks old.
Read allWed, 31 Oct 2007, 06:00
According to Frederick Belton's Ol Doinyo Lengai website, the owner of a camp on the S shore of Lake Natron reported that ash eruptions continued "daily" and some "lava eruptions" were observed at night. Based on pilot observations, the Toulouse VAAC reported an eruption on 6 November.
Read allTue, 30 Oct 2007, 15:02
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Photo by Thomas Holden
Lengai volcano as seen from the north-east on 27 Oct 07: thick plumes of ash rise from the active crater and recent ash and lava deposits can be seen on the flank.
Wed, 24 Oct 2007, 06:00
Based on pilot observations, the Toulouse VAAC reported that ash plumes from Ol Doinyo Lengai rose to altitudes of 3.2-4.6 km (10,500-15,000 ft) a.s.l. on 23 October. According to Frederick Belton's Ol Doinyo Lengai website, a pilot photographed an ash column rising vertically from the summit on approximately 25 October.
Read allTue, 11 Sep 2007, 08:17
As more evidence about the large eruption at Lengai volcano on 4-5 Sep is pieced together, it appears that the eruption was probably a mainly explosive event while evidence of significant lava flows on the flanks becomes less. The observed "lava flows" could have been bush fires ignited by hot ejecta. In any case, there is little doubt that the observed ash cloud was the result of a significant explosive eruption and not just landslides on the steep flank.
Read allThu, 6 Sep 2007, 18:39
It seems that the eruption at Lengai is indeed a major event and that explosive activity has taken or is taking place in addition to lava flows and probably, bush fires. According to local sources from the nearby Moivaro - Lake Natron Camp, Lengai first erupted at midnight and at 6 am on 4 September. A pilot reported ash rising to 20,000 ft (ca. 6 km). Ashfall was reported from Engaresero Village, but there are no reports on injuries or fatalities. The highly regarded Moivaro Tented Lodge near Lake Natron has been temporarily evacuated.
Read allThu, 6 Sep 2007, 11:47
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Satellite image of the eruption at Lengai volcano (image: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team)
A large eruption seems to be taking place at Lengai volcano, this time for real: On 4 Sept., reports started coming in that a large (natrocarbonatite?) lava flow is descending the West flank. A considerable ash plume was visible on satellite data.
Read allWed, 5 Sep 2007, 06:00
An eruption of Ol Doinyo Lengai on 4 September produced an ash plume that was reported by a pilot and visible on satellite imagery. Ashfall lasted about 12 hours in the village of Engare Sero, about 18 km N. Dark areas on the NW, W, and E flanks that were noticeable on satellite imagery from 4 September were possibly due to recent lava flows and burned vegetation or both.
Read allWed, 25 Jul 2007, 06:00
Ol Doinyo Lengai is frequently the scene of fluid but very small volume lava flows in its summit crater, including a few that passed over the crater rim and begun the long descent down the mountain. As noted here last week, news reports had indicated that products of the volcano's 19-July eruption had entered inhabited areas. Subsequent investigations have cast doubt on those earlier claims.
Read allMon, 23 Jul 2007, 01:46
As more news has become available, the news about an effusive flank eruption at Lengai around 15 July turns out to be probably false. The observed "ashcloud" was dust from a landslide. This demonstrates how difficult it is in this area to have robust information. The ongoing seismic activity in the Gregory Rift, however, is quite peculiar.
Read allWed, 18 Jul 2007, 06:00
According to news reports, an eruption began at Ol Doinyo Lengai around 19 July, forcing villagers living near the volcano to evacuate. An article stated that, "...more than 1,500 people,most of them Maasai families,vacated their homes in Ngaresero,Orbalal and Nayobi villages following the tremors that triggered the volcanic eruption." "Villagers are reported to have heard roaring...before the volcano started discharging ash and lava." There were reports of a damaged school and two injuries, but no reports of deaths.
Read allThu, 5 Apr 2007, 20:51
Thomas, our correspondant in Arusha climbed Lengai last week and reports indirect signs of activity near the western rim of the crater, at the place where lava overflowed in the March 2006 eruption.
this is his report:
Read allTue, 20 Feb 2007, 16:16
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Glow from nearby (but hidden) lava pooling somewhere beneath the collapse pit in Lengai's crater (taken on evening of 31 Jan 07).
During our latest expedition to the active crater of Lengai volcano from early 31 Jan - 2 February 2007, no eruption of natrocarbonatite lava occured from the summit vents. According to local Maassai guides, the central area of the crater with the large collapse pit near the tall hornito T49b had not seen significant changes since last summer.
From an open vent in the NE corner at the bottom of the pit at the base of the hornito, loud washing-machine like sounds of boiling lava was audible all the time. A large pool of lava must be found somewhere at very shallow depths in some caverns beneath that area. This assumption is confirmed by the glow of lava that was clearly visible one night from a second, smaller vent located about 30 m south of the large vent in the base of the collapse pit. One guide confirmed he had seen spattering of lava from this vent some two weeks earlier.
Read all
