The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

First recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, 2011

First recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, 2011
First recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, 2011
We present a synthesis of diverse observations of the first recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, which began on 12 June 2011. While no monitoring of the volcano was in effect at the time, it has been possible to reconstruct the nature and evolution of the eruption through analysis of regional seismological and infrasound data and satellite remote sensing data, supplemented by petrological analysis of erupted products and brief field surveys. The event is notable for the comparative rarity of recorded historical eruptions in the region and of caldera systems in general, for the prodigious quantity of SO2 emitted into the atmosphere and the significant human impacts that ensued notwithstanding the low population density of the Afar region. It is also relevant in understanding the broader magmatic and tectonic significance of the volcanic massif of which Nabro forms a part and which strikes obliquely to the principal rifting directions in the Red Sea and northern Afar. The whole-rock compositions of the erupted lavas and tephra range from trachybasaltic to trachybasaltic andesite, and crystal-hosted melt inclusions contain up to 3,000 ppm of sulphur by weight. The eruption was preceded by significant seismicity, detected by regional networks of sensors and accompanied by sustained tremor. Substantial infrasound was recorded at distances of hundreds to thousands of kilometres from the vent, beginning at the onset of the eruption and continuing for weeks. Analysis of ground deformation suggests the eruption was fed by a shallow, NW–SE-trending dike, which is consistent with field and satellite observations of vent distributions. Despite lack of prior planning and preparedness for volcanic events in the country, rapid coordination of the emergency response mitigated the human costs of the eruption.
Nabro InSAR Seismicity Afar Danakil Volcano monitoring Satellite remote sensing
0258-8900
Art.85
Goitom, B.
e136980f-049f-47f8-9526-59cc785127db
Oppenheimer, C.
2639e0bb-9076-4b00-9015-df912a01ecd6
Hammond, J.O.S.
df081c77-2e69-4753-8846-549826d905bb
Grandin, R.
7391857f-3c0d-40a6-9b07-ddabb820024c
Barnie, T.
653f939a-1b34-417a-aada-3564ed4b56a4
Donovan, A.
4d294d03-4552-46a1-a18c-a9c4566efb60
Ogubazghi, G.
468612ef-14a9-4332-a841-5733d556340c
Yohannes, E.
657c1b49-fd3f-4b1a-93c1-e3107bc0938e
Kibrom, G.
0f5b600c-83eb-4f5c-b6b9-0eade4185efc
Kendall, J-M.
9a2eb4fe-eb71-4d9b-955b-b56b790c2bf9
Carn, S.A.
9e6a80cf-564a-4eb1-b6d7-945530bb00dc
Fee, D.
31fdddbc-6405-43bf-a576-099324a638f7
Sealing, C.
76c52ed9-220f-4d52-8c83-1a3e8d900237
Keir, D.
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65
Ayele, A.
2a0d90e9-a4be-4484-9301-5c4df46f9407
Blundy, J.
cada4533-3530-4c64-9530-e58500d1b37e
Hamlyn, J.
509453fa-5b59-4d1b-a7ae-7cee982f6441
Wright, T.
7a5fc3bc-74e5-4712-a69d-8b153b8606ec
Berhe, S.
290ecc36-d79f-4d09-8a77-8761188d2602
Goitom, B.
e136980f-049f-47f8-9526-59cc785127db
Oppenheimer, C.
2639e0bb-9076-4b00-9015-df912a01ecd6
Hammond, J.O.S.
df081c77-2e69-4753-8846-549826d905bb
Grandin, R.
7391857f-3c0d-40a6-9b07-ddabb820024c
Barnie, T.
653f939a-1b34-417a-aada-3564ed4b56a4
Donovan, A.
4d294d03-4552-46a1-a18c-a9c4566efb60
Ogubazghi, G.
468612ef-14a9-4332-a841-5733d556340c
Yohannes, E.
657c1b49-fd3f-4b1a-93c1-e3107bc0938e
Kibrom, G.
0f5b600c-83eb-4f5c-b6b9-0eade4185efc
Kendall, J-M.
9a2eb4fe-eb71-4d9b-955b-b56b790c2bf9
Carn, S.A.
9e6a80cf-564a-4eb1-b6d7-945530bb00dc
Fee, D.
31fdddbc-6405-43bf-a576-099324a638f7
Sealing, C.
76c52ed9-220f-4d52-8c83-1a3e8d900237
Keir, D.
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65
Ayele, A.
2a0d90e9-a4be-4484-9301-5c4df46f9407
Blundy, J.
cada4533-3530-4c64-9530-e58500d1b37e
Hamlyn, J.
509453fa-5b59-4d1b-a7ae-7cee982f6441
Wright, T.
7a5fc3bc-74e5-4712-a69d-8b153b8606ec
Berhe, S.
290ecc36-d79f-4d09-8a77-8761188d2602

Goitom, B., Oppenheimer, C., Hammond, J.O.S., Grandin, R., Barnie, T., Donovan, A., Ogubazghi, G., Yohannes, E., Kibrom, G., Kendall, J-M., Carn, S.A., Fee, D., Sealing, C., Keir, D., Ayele, A., Blundy, J., Hamlyn, J., Wright, T. and Berhe, S. (2015) First recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, 2011. Bulletin of Volcanology, 77 (10), Art.85. (doi:10.1007/s00445-015-0966-3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present a synthesis of diverse observations of the first recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, which began on 12 June 2011. While no monitoring of the volcano was in effect at the time, it has been possible to reconstruct the nature and evolution of the eruption through analysis of regional seismological and infrasound data and satellite remote sensing data, supplemented by petrological analysis of erupted products and brief field surveys. The event is notable for the comparative rarity of recorded historical eruptions in the region and of caldera systems in general, for the prodigious quantity of SO2 emitted into the atmosphere and the significant human impacts that ensued notwithstanding the low population density of the Afar region. It is also relevant in understanding the broader magmatic and tectonic significance of the volcanic massif of which Nabro forms a part and which strikes obliquely to the principal rifting directions in the Red Sea and northern Afar. The whole-rock compositions of the erupted lavas and tephra range from trachybasaltic to trachybasaltic andesite, and crystal-hosted melt inclusions contain up to 3,000 ppm of sulphur by weight. The eruption was preceded by significant seismicity, detected by regional networks of sensors and accompanied by sustained tremor. Substantial infrasound was recorded at distances of hundreds to thousands of kilometres from the vent, beginning at the onset of the eruption and continuing for weeks. Analysis of ground deformation suggests the eruption was fed by a shallow, NW–SE-trending dike, which is consistent with field and satellite observations of vent distributions. Despite lack of prior planning and preparedness for volcanic events in the country, rapid coordination of the emergency response mitigated the human costs of the eruption.

Text
art%3A10.1007%2Fs00445-015-0966-3.pdf - Version of Record
Download (16MB)

More information

Published date: 10 October 2015
Keywords: Nabro InSAR Seismicity Afar Danakil Volcano monitoring Satellite remote sensing
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 381530
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/381530
ISSN: 0258-8900
PURE UUID: b71b84d8-628c-45bb-8dbb-5752c8de2137
ORCID for D. Keir: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-8446

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Sep 2015 08:22
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:38

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: B. Goitom
Author: C. Oppenheimer
Author: J.O.S. Hammond
Author: R. Grandin
Author: T. Barnie
Author: A. Donovan
Author: G. Ogubazghi
Author: E. Yohannes
Author: G. Kibrom
Author: J-M. Kendall
Author: S.A. Carn
Author: D. Fee
Author: C. Sealing
Author: D. Keir ORCID iD
Author: A. Ayele
Author: J. Blundy
Author: J. Hamlyn
Author: T. Wright
Author: S. Berhe

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×