The attached MODIS / Terra satellite image from 11 Nov shows a gas plume drifting NE from the new island as well as a discolored water plume extending south. The discolored sea water is likely caused by dissolved volcanic gasses (H2S in particular).
The absence of steam suggests that there is no lava entering the sea and no submarine effusive activity. [less]

No ash can be seen on satellite imagery, only steam, and the area of discolored water (indicator of suspended particles) is small if not has disappeared. That suggests that the eruption is currently rather weak and probably has not yet entered the so-called surtseyan phase where solid fragments (ash, lava blocks) are ejected above the surface of the sea. [less]

A video has appeared showing the activity (from distance) on the first day of the eruption:
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No signs of activity are visible on images taken on 27 Sep, which confirms that the eruption started yesterday.
The presence of the significant steam plume suggests that the eruption vent is a shallow depth (less than 100 m), and possibly in the stage of producing so-called surtseyan activity (violent steam-driven explosions breach the surface with jets of water and steam, and become more and more rich in lava fragments as the vent becomes shallower). often [less]

The island, whose name yet needs to be published, belongs to Yemen.
If it consists of sufficiently large quantities of hard lava flows instead of loose ash and scoria, it will probably resist wave eruption long enough to become a permanent feature in the archipelago, but it will certainly take some time before it can possibly be inhabited (if anyone wants to live there anyway...). [less]

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. [less]

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.

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. ...more [read all]

(update 21 Dec:) ...more [read all]