Two small thermal anomalies in Erta Ale’s S pit crater were identified in satellite images on 15 September. A 20 September image showed small anomalies in both the N and S pit craters, and a possible lava lake in the N pit crater that had mostly been crusted over. A large thermal anomaly in the SE part of the N pit crater was identified in a 25 September image. The anomaly suggested that lava had spilled over the SE rim of the crater and flowed short distances (possibly less than 400 m) E and SE.

Geological Summary. The Erta Ale basaltic shield volcano in Ethiopia has a 50-km-wide edifice that rises more than 600 m from below sea level in the Danakil depression. The volcano includes a 0.7 x 1.6 km summit crater hosting steep-sided pit craters. Another larger 1.8 x 3.1 km wide depression elongated parallel to the trend of the Erta Ale range is located SE of the summit and is bounded by curvilinear fault scarps on the SE side. Basaltic lava flows from these fissures have poured into the caldera and locally overflowed its rim. The summit caldera usually also holds at least one long-term lava lake that has been active since at least 1967, and possibly since 1906. Recent fissure eruptions have occurred on the N flank.

Source: Sentinel Hub