Corbetti

Photo of this volcano
Country Ethiopia
Volcanic Region Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Landform | Volc Type Caldera | Caldera
Last Known Eruption 396 BCE
Coordinates 7.193°N, 38.39°E
Elevation 2,289 m (7,510 ft)
Volcano Number 221290
Google Earth icon Google Earth Placemark with Features
Citation icon Cite Volcano Profile

Latest Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports available for Corbetti.

Latest Bulletin Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Corbetti.

Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Corbetti.

Bulletin Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Corbetti.

General Information

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed eruptive periods.

[ 1957 Jul 2 ± 182 days - 1964 Jul 2 ± 182 days ] Discredited Eruption

BVE included reports of copious fumarolic activity during 1957-1964 associated with very fresh obsidian flows. However, Wood (1978) noted that there was only Fumarolic activity, and the obsidian flows were much older.

0396 BCE ± 38 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) Wendo Koshe Younger Pumice
0396 BCE ± 38 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
 The Wendo Koshe Younger Pumice is described by Rapprich et al. (2016) as follows: "The Plinian eruption of the Wendo Koshe crater within the Corbetti Caldera occurred around 396 BC. The pumice lapilli deposit, with a thickness exceeding 10 cm, dispersed over an area of over 1000 km2 around the towns of Hawasa and Shashemene. Most of the pumice was deposited by fall-out; however, minor local pyroclastic density currents also occurred. The calculated volume of preserved pumice fall deposit (approximately 1.2 km3), combined with the estimated volume of dispersed fine ash distributed further from the volcano, corresponds to an estimated volume of 0.4 km3 (dense rock equivalent) of erupted magma. The age of the pumice eruption (396 ± 38 BC) was determined by 14C radiometric dating of a paleosoil that developed on previous pyroclastic deposits buried by the pumice."

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Wendo Koshe Younger Pumice

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index) VEI 5

5425 BCE (in or before) ± 54 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)  

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) Biftu Tuff Cone
5425 BCE (in or before) ± 54 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
 Research by Colby et al. (2022) "...constrained the age of the Biftu Tuff Cone eruption to <7375 ± 54 cal BP through 14C dating of shells incorporated into an associated PDC deposit. Carbon and oxygen isotope data from these shells also indicate the eruption likely occurred during a high-stand period at Lake Hawassa, raising the possibility of the lake water interacting with the eruption, resulting in the generation of the large-scale dilute PDCs observed."

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Biftu Tuff Cone

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Cinder Cone

Synonyms and Subfeatures

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.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Corbetti in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites