Satellite picture of Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia gotten on November 27, 2023, by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8
Erta Ale, in the East African Rift, is Ethiopia’s most active volcano.
The heat is constantly on at Erta Ale volcano inEthiopia In East Africa’s Danakil (or Afar) Depression, 3 tectonic plates are pulling apart from each other, permitting lava to increase to the surface area and feed a number of active volcanoes. Erta Ale lies in this rift zone and is Ethiopia’s most active volcano.
Notable Features of Erta Ale
The volcano is called the “smoking mountain” and the “gateway to hell” in the Afar language. A lava lake in its top crater, displayed in the inset (above), has actually roiled given that a minimum of 1967 and perhaps given that1906 The image was gotten by Landsat 8’s OLI (Operational Land Imager) on November 27, 2023, and consists of an infrared signal (red) produced by the heat of molten rock.
Recent Volcanic Activity
In a current wave of activity, satellites identified thermal abnormalities in the top crater beginning in mid-September2023 According to reports from the Global Volcanism Program, abnormalities observed over the taking place weeks most likely represented eruptions from spatter cones and little lava streams within the crater. Much of researchers’ understanding of Erta Ale’s volcanism originates from satellite observations given that the location is remote and mostly unattainable for field research study.
Lava Flows and Impact
While activity prevails at the top, lava circulations likewise take place on other parts of the mountain. Notably, from January 2017 to March 2020, crack eruptions in the southeast caldera produced a big volume of basaltic lava that put down the volcano’s flanks. The streams covered around 30 square kilometers (12 square miles), a few of which shows up in this image reaching the northeast and southwest.
< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NASA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Its vision is "To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Its core values are "safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion." NASA conducts research, develops technology and launches missions to explore and study Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond. It also works to advance the state of knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, including Earth and space science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics, and it collaborates with private companies and international partners to achieve its goals.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > NASAEarthObservatory image byLaurenDauphin, utilizingLandsat information from the U.S.GeologicalSurvey
