TY - JOUR
T1 - First recorded eruption of Nabro volcano, Eritrea, 2011
AU - Gezahegn, Berhe
AU - Oppenheimer, Clive
AU - Hammond, James O S
AU - Grandin, Raphaël
AU - Barnie, Talfan
AU - Donovan, Amy
AU - Ogubazghi, Ghebrebrhan
AU - Yohannes, Ermias
AU - Kibrom, Goitom
AU - Kendall, J. Michael
AU - Carn, Simon A.
AU - Fee, David
AU - Sealing, Christine
AU - Keir, Derek
AU - Ayele, Atalay
AU - Blundy, Jon
AU - Hamlyn, Joanna
AU - Wright, Tim
AU - Berhe, Seife
PY - 2015/10/13
Y1 - 2015/10/13
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Afar
KW - Danakil
KW - InSAR
KW - Nabro
KW - Satellite remote sensing
KW - Seismicity
KW - Volcano monitoring
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84941341992&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00445-015-0966-3
DO - 10.1007/s00445-015-0966-3
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 26379357
AN - SCOPUS:84941341992
VL - 77
JO - Bulletin of Volcanology
JF - Bulletin of Volcanology
SN - 0258-8900
IS - 10
M1 - 85
ER -