Global Volcanism Program | Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye.

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The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

221250

1900 CE

2,345 m / 7,694 ft

8.2114°N
39.0812°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Pyroclastic cone
Fissure vent(s)

Rock Types

Major
Rhyolite
Trachyte / Trachydacite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

11,514
51,976
546,291
5,565,084

Geological Summary

The Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye (BBTM) volcanic complex includes three main silicic edifices and at least 11 smaller cones within the Main Ethiopian Rift. Tullu Moye is a youthful trachytic-to-rhyolitic pumice cone with a 700-m-wide summit crater. A large silicic lava flow at Giano was erupted about two centuries ago from a regional fissure. Flank fissures have produced silicic lava flows as recently as about 1900 CE. Many large lava flows can be seen N of the Tulle Moye cone, extending for about 20 km in an arc between Gedamsa and the Bericha cone to the SE shore of Koka Lake. The silicic Bora and Bericha pumice cones are SE of Koka Lake. Bora has a 1.5-km-wide summit crater; the more conical Bericha is capped by a small summit crater and has a 1-km-wide crater on its S flank. Small silicic pyroclastic cones are found on the E flanks of both. All volcanic products in this area are considered to be Holocene, and there is ongoing fumarolic activity.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Bizouard H, Di Paola G M, 1978. Mineralogy of the Tullu Moje active volcanic area (Arussi: Ethiopian Rift Valley). In: Neuman E-R and Ramberg I B (eds) Petrology and Geochemistry of Continental Rifts, Dordrecht, Holland: D Reidel, p. 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9803-2_9

Di Paola G M, 1972. The Ethiopian Rift Valley (between 7° 00' and 8° 40' lat north). Bulletin of Volcanology, 36: 517-560.

Fontijn K, McNamara K, Tadesse A Z, Pyle D M, Dessalegn F, Hutchison W, Mather T A, Yirgu G, 2018. Contrasting styles of post-caldera volcanism along the Main Ethiopian Rift: Implications for contemporary volcanic hazards. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 356:90-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.02.001

Gouin P, 1979. Earthquake history of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. International Development Research Centre (Canada), 118E: 259.

Tadesse A Z, Fontijn K, Melaku A A, Gebru E F, Smith V C, Tomlinson E, Barfod D, Gopon P, Begue F, Caricchi L, Laha P, Terryn H, Gudbrandsson S, Yirgu G, Ayalew D, 2022. Eruption frequency and magnitude in a geothermally active continental rift: The Bora-Baricha-Tullu Moye volcanic complex, Main Ethiopian Rift. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 423:107471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2022.107471

Wolfenden E, Ebinger C, Yirgu G, Deino A, Ayalew D, 2004. Evolution of the northern Main Ethiopian rift: birth of a triple junction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 224: 213-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2004.04.022

Eruptive History

There is data available for 3 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1900 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Wonji Fault Belt, SE of Lake Koka

1900 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

Two references in Gouin (1979) describe an eruption in about 1900 CE. The first (p. 93) states "...the most recent instance of fissural activity dates from the early 1900s; it is a flow of pitchstone ejected along the Wonji fault belt a few kilometers southeast of Lake Galilee (Koka). Eyewitnesses are still alive and were interviewed by Dakin and Morton in 1975 (personal communication)." The second (p. 105) reads "...about 1900 or so, pitchstone was ejected from a fissure on the rift floor, southeast of the Koka reservoir (N 08.3°, E 39.4°). The 'rain of hot grains' as witnesses described the eruption, destroyed crops many kilometers away...." The location specified by Gouin in the second account is well to the east of the rift zone, and a point along the rift zone "several km SE of Lake Koka" would appear to be located somewhere near Tullu Moye.

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Wonji Fault Belt, SE of Lake Koka

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)	VEI 1
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage

1775 ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Giano lava flow

1775 ± 25 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Anthropology

Legends suggest that the large silicic lava flow at Giano was erupted from regional fissures about two centuries ago (Bizouard and Di Paola, 1978, citing geological map in Di Paola, 1976).

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Giano lava flow

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)	VEI 0
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

0760 ± 36 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 \| Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)				Bericha, Ba-P9
0760 ± 36 years - Unknown				Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
	Tephra fall and PDC deposits with a maximum thickness of 2.5 m, as described by Tadesse et al. (2022): "Cream-colored matrix-supported and undulated beds in the bottom half. Parallel bedded, well-sorted pumice lapilli breccia on the top." This is the youngest deposit at Bericha.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Adano

Cone

1922 m

8° 10' 32.00" N

39° 3' 39.00" E

Bericha
Bericcio

Pyroclastic cone

2267 m

8° 16' 29.00" N

39° 2' 1.00" E

Bora
Sap'o

Pyroclastic cone

2238 m

8° 11' 28.00" N

38° 59' 39.00" E

Oda

Pyroclastic cone

1947 m

8° 8' 8.00" N

39° 3' 23.00" E

Tullu Moye
Tulu Moje
Tullu Moje

Pyroclastic cone

2345 m

8° 9' 31.00" N

39° 8' 13.00" E

Werdi
Dima

Pyroclastic cone

2093 m

8° 12' 0.00" N

39° 5' 19.00" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Giano

Dome

1964 m

8° 14' 17.00" N

39° 9' 7.00" E

Photo Gallery

Mount Bericha, a rhyolitic pumice cone along the Wonji Fault Belt in Ethiopia, is part of the Bora-Bericha-Tulle Moye volcanic complex. Produced by the accumulation of rhyolitic pumice around its vent, Bericha is capped by a small summit crater. Erosion of the unconsolidated pumice has produced abundant small valleys on the flanks of the cone. Small pumice cones are found on the east flanks of both Bora and Bericha.

Photo by Giday Wolde-Gabriel, 1984 (Los Alamos National Laboratory).

Tullu Moje has produced both mafic and silicic eruptions, with silicic volcanism emplacing explosive deposits and thick obsidian lava flows, like the flow in the center of this 5 December 2019 Sentinel-2 satellite image (N is at the top; this image is approximately 11 km across). Immediately south of the flow is the Tullu Moje cone with a roughly 700-m-wide crater. The suspected Tullu Moje caldera is south of the Gedemsa caldera.

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Bora-Bericha-Tullu Moye

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).