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Report on Alu-Dalafilla (Ethiopia) — 5 November-11 November 2008


Alu-Dalafilla

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 November-11 November 2008
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Alu-Dalafilla (Ethiopia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 November-11 November 2008. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (5 November-11 November 2008)

Alu-Dalafilla

Ethiopia

13.793°N, 40.553°E; summit elev. 578 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


An eruption of a volcano NW of Erta Ale in Ethiopia's Afar region began on 3 November. Satellite imagery showed a large sulfur dioxide cloud that drifted E over the Arabian Peninsula. According to news articles, observers reported ground shaking, hearing loud noises and explosions from a distance, and seeing smoke. Widespread lava flows were also noted. Extensive thermal anomalies near Dalafilla and Alu volcanoes were detected, consistent with lava effusion, although the source of the lava flows was not known. Thermal anomalies continued to be detected during 3-11 November.

Geological Summary. The summit region of Alu, ~5 km NW of the Dalafilla stratovolcano, is an ellipsoidal volcanic horst, elongated NNW-SSE, and formed primarily of older basaltic lava flows. Recent fractures along the axis of the Erta Ale range cut the main horst of Alu and areas to the SSE. Fumarolic activity is located on the numerous parallel faults. Fissure vents west of the horst have fed silicic lava flows, and voluminous youthful basaltic lava flows to the east extend north as far as Lake Bakili. Dalafilla, also referred to as Gabuli, is a steep-sided cone that rises 300 m above surrounding lava fields due to extrusion of viscous, silicic lava flows. Basaltic lava flows from regional fissures surround the volcano. Fumarolic activity occurs in the 100-m-wide summit crater and has weathered surrounding lava flows. The first historical eruption of Alu-Dalafilla took place in 2008, when lava flows from vents between the two edifices traveled NE.

Sources: OMI Sulfur Dioxide Group, Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts Team, Bloomberg