Jebel Zubair volcano, Red Sea, Yemen: news & activity updates

Updated: Aug 16, 2022 13:18 GMT - Refresh

Jebel Zubair (Red Sea, Jemen): volcanic activity at the new island might have ended

Tue, 26 Nov 2013, 17:37

Comparison google earth image and Landsat satellite image from 24 Nov, where the new island can be seen (Blog Culture Volcan)

Satellite images show signs of ongoing activity (steam plume, discolored water) at the new island at least until 20 November. A satellite image from 24 November shows no such signs any more, suggesting that the activity has stopped or paused.

Jebel Zubair (Red Sea, Jemen): weak eruptive activity resumes on new island

Thu, 14 Nov 2013, 11:24

MODIS / Terra satellite image 11 Nov showing the gas plume and discolored water plume

Signs of weak continuing or renewed activity could be spotted again on recent satellite data after few weeks with no evidence of activity. Read all

Jebel Zubair (Red Sea, Jemen): new island, current volcanic activity unknown

Sun, 3 Nov 2013, 10:58

A new island appeared in the Zubair archipelago on or before 23 Oct (Google Earth image for comparison) (source: Blog Culture Volcan)

A new island has emerged in late Oct at the submarine eruption site, but the exact date is currently not known. At the moment, satellite images do not allow to determine whether eruptive activity at the island continues, but suggest that it is currently low or has stopped. If any, it might be strombolian or the effusion of small lava flows. The last ash /steam plume was spotted a MODIS satellite image on 30 Oct.

Jebel Zubair volcano (Red Sea, Yemen) activity update

Thu, 17 Oct 2013, 10:49

Steam plume from Zubair this morning

The submarine eruption continues to produce a steam plume visible on the latest satellite images. No evidence of ash is apparent, suggesting that the vent is still relatively deep.

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Jebel Zubair volcano (Red Sea, Yemen) activity update

Mon, 14 Oct 2013, 14:01

SO2 plume from Zubair volcano (NOAA)

The submarine eruption continues. A small steam plume continued to rise from the new eruption site this morning and an SO2 plume hovers above the area.

Jebel Zubair volcano (Red Sea, Yemen) activity update

Fri, 11 Oct 2013, 17:23

Steam plume from Zubair in the Red Sea on Tuesday (8 Oct)

As of today, the submarine eruption continues with the production of a steam plume of variable size, not always easily identifiable on satellite images. A SO2 plume is also visible on satellite data drifting from the eruption site. Read all

Jebel Zubair volcano (Red Sea, Yemen) activity update

Wed, 2 Oct 2013, 07:28

MODIS / Terra satellite image 1 Oct showing the steam plume from the eruption

As of yesterday morning when the latest MODIS satellite image was taken from the area, the eruption continued with little changes. Read all

Jebel Zubair (Red Sea, Jemen): new submarine volcanic eruption

Sun, 29 Sep 2013, 11:38

Steam plume and discolored water around the new submarine eruption site (NASA / Terra satellite image 28 Sep, annotated by Blog Culture Volcan)

A submarine eruption started yesterday (28 Sep) NW of the island Jebel Zubair and SW of the site of the 2011-12 eruption. The activity manifestated itself in form of a strong SO2 anomaly and steam plume spotted on satellite imagery. Read all

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New island in the Red Sea stopped erupting

Wed, 18 Jan 2012, 00:01

The new island seen on January 15, 2012 (NASA Earth Obbservatory)

It appears from the latest NASA satellite images that the eruption that has formed the new island has ended, leaving an impressive new elongated island about 1000 m long and 500 m wide just 500 m NNW of Rugged Island in the Zubair archipelago. Read all

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

Wed, 11 Jan 2012, 11:54

The new island in the Red Sea on 7 Jan 2012 (NASA Earth Observatory)

New images were released from NASA, showing the rapid growth of a new island in the Zubair archipelago in the Red Sea. Read all

Zubair Group volcano (Yemen) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (New Activity / Unrest)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012, 06:00

Satellite imagery acquired on 15 January from the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's EO-1 satellite showed that the eruption in the northern part of the Zubair Group appeared to have stopped. The S end of the new island is about 500 m NNW of Rugged Island. Read all

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

Wed, 4 Jan 2012, 19:43

Surtseyan eruption at the newly formed island in the Red Sea

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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Zubair Group volcano (Yemen) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 4 January-10 January 2012 (New Activity / Unrest)

Wed, 4 Jan 2012, 06:00

A satellite image acquired on 7 January showed the newly-formed island in the northern part of the Zubair Group. The island had grown to about 530 x 710 m, and a gas-and-steam plume containing ash rose from a distinct cone. Read all

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

Wed, 28 Dec 2011, 20:19

The new island in the Red Sea seen on 23 Dec 2011 (NASA Earth Observatory)

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. Read all

Volcanic Eruption in the Red Sea (Yemen) reported

Wed, 21 Dec 2011, 08:15

MODIS thermal image of the area of the reported eruption (the Zubair islands are in the center). No hot spot is visible, which could indicate either the eruption was extremely short and small, or there was another cause of the report.

(update 21 Dec:) Read all

Zubair Group volcano (Yemen) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 21 December-27 December 2011 (New Activity / Unrest)

Wed, 21 Dec 2011, 06:00

An eruption from the northern part of the Zubair Group continued during 21-27 December. MODIS imagery from NASA's satellites on 22 December showed a plume, possibly containing ash, rising from what was thought to be a submarine eruption. Imagery acquired on 23 December from the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's EO-1 satellite showed a new island at the location with a plume rising from it, roughly 500 m N of Rugged Island and more than 500 m in diameter. Read all

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Zubair Group volcano (Yemen) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 14 December-20 December 2011 (New Activity / Unrest)

Wed, 14 Dec 2011, 06:00

According to local news, fishermen from the port city of Salif on the western Red Sea coast of Yemen reported an off shore eruption from the island of Jebel Zubair, about 60 km SW, with lava fountains rising 20-30 m above the summit on 19 December. On 19 December a SO2 cloud was detected in an OMI satellite image. MODIS imagery from 20 December shows a plume rising from a submarine eruption about 1.5 km SW of Haycock and N of Rugged (near the N end of the Az-Zubair island group), and about 12 km NE of Jebel Zubair island. Read all

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Jebel Zubair volcano, Red Sea, Yemen: news & activity updates

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