2011 Nabro eruption

Image:Nabro Volcano ash cloud 2011-06-13, Eritrea.jpg|Satellite image of Ethiopia/ Eritrea showing the ash plume from Nabro on 13 June 2011.

Image:Eruption_at_Nabro_Volcano,_Eritrea,_06-19-2011.jpg|False color image from 19 June 2011 showing extent of lava flow on that date.

Image:Activity_at_Nabro_volcano,_Eritrea_06-19-2011.jpg|True color image from 19 June 2011 showing area affected by tephra deposition, and international boundaries.

Image:June 2011 Lava Flows at Nabro Volcano, Eritrea.jpg|Natural color satellite view of the volcano on 29 June 2011.

On 12 June 2011, satellite images showed a large volcanic eruption shortly after 22.00 UTC 12 June (close to 01.00 13 June local time), in the Southern Red Sea Region. It was first thought to have originated at Dubbi Volcano, but has been confirmed to be from the Nabro{{cite news|last=Vervaeck|first=Armand|title=Eritrea volcano eruption : Ash cloud advisory extending further into Africa|url=http://earthquake-report.com/2011/06/12/unusual-series-of-moderate-volcanic-earthquakes-in-eritrea-and-ethiopia/|accessdate=13 June 2011|newspaper=Earthquake – Report|date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614190828/http://earthquake-report.com/2011/06/12/unusual-series-of-moderate-volcanic-earthquakes-in-eritrea-and-ethiopia/|archive-date=14 June 2011|url-status=usurped}}{{cite news|last=Gubin|first=Anastasia|title=Africa: Volcán Nabro erupciona lanzando cenizas hasta Sudán|url=http://www.lagranepoca.com/africa-volc%C3%A1n-nabro-erupciona-lanzando-cenizas-hasta-sud%C3%A1n|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103161616/http://www.lagranepoca.com/africa-volc%C3%A1n-nabro-erupciona-lanzando-cenizas-hasta-sud%C3%A1n|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|accessdate=13 June 2011|newspaper=La Gran Época|date=13 June 2011|language=es}}{{Cite news|title=Eruption at Nabro Volcano |url=http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-app/reports?ARCHIV=0&LANG=en&MENU=207&FILE=ur.txt&DAY=20110617|date=17 June 2011}} stratovolcano in Eritrea, near the Ethiopian border.{{cite news|agency=BNO News|title=VAAC: Eruption underway at Dubbi volcano in Eritrea|url=http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/06/vaac-eruption-underway-at-dubbi-volcano-in-eritrea/|accessdate=13 June 2011|newspaper=Channel 6 news|date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723131030/http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/06/vaac-eruption-underway-at-dubbi-volcano-in-eritrea/|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|agency=BNO News|title=UPDATE 1 – Volcanic eruption in Eritrea sends plume into the air, first since 1861|url=http://wireupdate.com/wires/18119/update-1-volcanic-eruption-in-eritrea-sends-plume-into-the-air-first-since-1861/|accessdate=13 June 2011|newspaper=WireUpdate|date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618033434/http://wireupdate.com/wires/18119/update-1-volcanic-eruption-in-eritrea-sends-plume-into-the-air-first-since-1861/|archive-date=18 June 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=VAAC|first=Toulouse|title=Toulouse VAAC – Volcanic Ash Advisories|url=http://www.meteo.fr/vaac/evaa.html|work=Meteo France|publisher=Toulouse Volcano Ash Advisory Centre|accessdate=13 June 2011}}

Five days later, on 17 June 2011, the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported that the eruption had ceased.

Then, on 18 June 2011 (at noon, local time) NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead providing MODIS images which showed an ash plume heading in west-north-westerly direction.{{Cite news|title=Satellite Image Shows Nabro Volcano Eruption Is Ongoing|url=http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/satellite-image-shows-nabro-volcano-eruption-is-ongoing/20515.html|date=18 June 2011|access-date=18 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619210046/http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/satellite-image-shows-nabro-volcano-eruption-is-ongoing/20515.html|archive-date=19 June 2011|url-status=dead}}

On 19 June 2011, the volcano produced the highest level of sulfur dioxide emissions in the Earth's atmosphere ever detected from space. Satellite images showed a 15 km long lava flow.{{Cite web|title=Zusammenfassung: Nabro, Puyehue, und diverse Erdbeben|url=http://vulkane.net/blogmobil/?p=2443|language=de|date=23 June 2011}}

The next day, on 20 June 2011: VAAC reported that the SO₂ eruption was continuing.{{Cite web|title=Toulouse VAAC |url=http://www.meteo.fr/vaac/archives/NABRO/e.20110620170300.NABRO.201121.201106201800.html|date=20 June 2011}}

Between the 22 and 27 June 2011, the eruption of sulfur dioxide, water vapour, and ash was confirmed to be still active by MODIS pictures taken from the TERRA satellite.{{Cite news|title=SO2, Ash Emissions From Nabro Volcano Drift Over Ethiopia|url=http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/so2-ash-emissions-from-nabro-volcano-drift-over-ethiopia/21182.html|date=23 June 2011|access-date=23 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627125624/http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/so2-ash-emissions-from-nabro-volcano-drift-over-ethiopia/21182.html|archive-date=27 June 2011|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Nasa Terra MODIS image|url=http://lance-modis.eosdis.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/imagery/single.cgi?image=crefl1_143.A2011178075500-2011178080000.2km.jpg|date=27 June 2011}}

In the first fifteen days of eruption, Nabro emitted a total SO2 mass of about 4.5 MT.{{Cite journal |last1=Theys |first1=N. |last2=Campion |first2=R. |last3=Clarisse |first3=L. |last4=Brenot |first4=H. |last5=van Gent |first5=J. |last6=Dils |first6=B. |last7=Corradini |first7=S. |last8=Merucci |first8=L. |last9=Coheur |first9=P.-F. |last10=Van Roozendael |first10=M. |last11=Hurtmans |first11=D. |last12=Clerbaux |first12=C. |last13=Tait |first13=S. |last14=Ferrucci |first14=F. |date=2013-06-20 |title=Volcanic SO 2 fluxes derived from satellite data: a survey using OMI, GOME-2, IASI and MODIS |url=https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/13/5945/2013/ |journal=Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |language=en |volume=13 |issue=12 |pages=5945–5968 |doi=10.5194/acp-13-5945-2013 |doi-access=free |issn=1680-7324|hdl=2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/154386 |hdl-access=free }}

On 24 June 2011, NASA Earth Observatory provided this false-color image (below) using the Advanced Land imager on the EO-1 satellite, showing that the lava flow from the 19th had not progressed significantly further, but that the eruption was ongoing.

On 30 June 2011, at least some of the people who have been evacuated are reported to be in Hawra and Wadien.

File:Eruption at Nabro Volcano, Eritrea, 06-24-2011.pngThat same day, eruption satellite images seem to show the volcano has stopped producing the ash cloud.

By 1 July 2011, eruption satellite images show a fresh ash cloud eruption, diminishing until 4 July, when the ash eruption still appears to be ongoing.{{Cite web|title=Nasa Lance-modis image|url=http://lance-modis.eosdis.nasa.gov/imagery/subsets/?subset=SERVIR_Africa_Horn.2011185.terra.367.1km|date=4 July 2011}}

Under a week later, on 6 July 2011, the ash cloud seems to have again stopped being produced. On 7 July 2011, SO₂ emissions were much reduced. But on 12 July 2011, the eruption was still ongoing.{{Cite web|title=NASA SO₂ images for Afar and southern Red Sea |url=http://so2.gsfc.nasa.gov/pix/daily/0711/afar_0711z.html |date=July 2011}}

Small eruptions were also reported in the Afambo and Sireru areas.{{Cite news|title=Eritrean Volcano erupts economic mayhem for Ethiopia |url=http://www.addisfortune.com/Eritrean%20Volcano%20Erupts%20Economic%20Mayhem%20for%20Ethiopia.htm |date=12 June 2011 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623142440/http://addisfortune.com/Eritrean%20Volcano%20Erupts%20Economic%20Mayhem%20for%20Ethiopia.htm |archive-date=23 June 2011 }}

On 22 June 2011, the Eritrean government reported that a lava flow up to {{convert|1|km|1}} wide and up to {{convert|15|m}} high had surfaced in Seriru, southern Denkalia, and destroyed vegetation for about {{convert|20|km}}.{{Cite web|title=Government Taking Close Care of Nationals Affected By Earthquake And Volcanic Eruption|url=http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/6088-government-taking-close-care-of-national-affected-by-earthquake-and-volcanic-eruption-|date=22 June 2011}}

By 27 June 2011, a thick emission of smoke from new lava eruptions were also reported in South Denkalia, Husele and Gagun.

Then on 30 June 2011 the Eritrean government reported that the lava flow in Seriru had slowed to {{convert|20|m}} per day. They also reported that in some places the flow was {{convert|4|km}} wide and {{convert|20|m}} high.{{Cite web|title=No accident witnessed on human or animal lives, Say displaced inhabitant of Sireru|url=http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/6189-no-accident-witnessed-on-human-or-animal-lives-say-displaced-inhabitant-of-sireru-|date=30 June 2011}}

Note: It is still uncertain whether the information regarding the lava flow in "Seriru" refers to the main flow, as seen from the satellite images, though it seems likely.

The eruption has ejected a large ash cloud near the Eritrea–Ethiopia border region, extending over {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}} into neighboring Sudan.{{cite news|last=Duran|first=Jim|title=Dubbi volcanic ash cloud expands westward through Northern Africa|url=http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-06_13_2011_dubbi.html|accessdate=13 June 2011|newspaper=The Weather Space|date=13 June 2011|author2=Warren Miller}}

The height of the ash cloud peaked at 14,000 m,{{cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=51135 |title=Eruption at Nabro Volcano |accessdate=20 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110630062329/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=51135| archive-date= 30 June 2011 | url-status= live}} implying a VEI of 4.

Forecasters predicted correctly{{cite news|title=Ash cloud from Eritrean volcano reaches Israel|url=http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=224929|date=14 June 2011}} that the ash plume might reach Israel,{{cite news|last=Masa|first=Israel|title=ענן וולקני מהר געש באריתריאה מתקדם לעבר ישראל|newspaper=מסע אחר|url=http://www.masa.co.il/article/5383/|publisher=Masa.co.il|accessdate=13 June 2011|language=he}} but no flights were cancelled at Ben-Gurion Airport on 14 June. Elsewhere, however, the ash cloud began disrupting air traffic on 14 June with UAE-based Emirates flights being cancelled;[http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2011/06/14/emirates-flights-in-ethiopia-disrupted-flights-to-western-and-central-africa-rerouted/ "Emirates flights to Africa disrupted"], Dubai Chronicle 14 June 2011. Accessed 14 June 2011 flights disruptions extended to other companies the following day.{{cite news|title= Nabro volcano eruption affects flights in Northeast Africa|author=Cathy Buyck|url= http://atwonline.com/operations-maintenance/news/nabro-volcano-eruption-affects-flights-northeast-africa-0614|newspaper=Air Transport World|date=15 June 2011|accessdate=24 June 2011}} Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State for the United States, shortened her state visit to Ethiopia. Djibouti Airport was closed, and several airlines suspended flights to Ethiopia.{{cite news|last=Heinlein|first=Peter|title=Eritrea Volcano Disrupts East Africa Air Travel|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/eritrea-volcano-disrupts-east-africa-air-travel-123819484/140738.html|access-date=15 June 2011|newspaper=Voice of America|date=14 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615013403/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/Eritrea-Volcano-Disrupts-East-Africa-Air-Travel-123819484.html| archive-date= 15 June 2011 | url-status= live}}

Mek'ele and Asmara were partially covered by volcanic ash.{{cite news|title=Nabro: Annulation de vols en Erythrée |url=http://www.afriquinfos.com/articles/2011/6/14/brevesdafrique-180067.asp |date=14 June 2011|language=fr }}

On 16 June, the inhabitants of Afambo, {{not a typo|Nebro}}, and Sireru were evacuated.{{Cite web|title=Inhabitants of Afambo, Nebro and Sireru moved to safer locations|url=http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/6011-inhabitants-of-afambo-nebro-and-sireru-moved-to-safer-locations|date=16 June 2011}}

By 19 June, ash had been deposited at least {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} beyond the Ethiopian border in a WNW–to–SSW direction.

By 20 June, eight villages in the Biddu district of Ethiopia were covered by volcanic ash, affecting at least 5,000 people and polluting springs and streams. One entire community has not been heard from. Save the Children reports many community members, especially children, are sick and in desperate need of medical attention. Vomiting and retching were reported as being common effects.{{Cite news|title=Eritrea volcano ash hits Ethiopia villagers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13847054|date=20 June 2011 | publisher=BBC News}}

On 21 June, an Eritrean government statement reported seven people have been killed and three injured.{{Cite web|title=Volcanic Eruption in Southern Red Sea Region creates new landmass|url=http://www.shabait.com/news/local-news/6072-volcanic-eruption-in-southern-red-sea-region-creates-new-landmass|date=21 June 2011}}{{Cite web|title=First video from the eruption at the Eritrean side of the border|url=http://earthquake-report.com/2011/06/22/unusual-series-of-moderate-volcanic-earthquakes-in-eritrea-and-ethiopia/|date=21 June 2011|access-date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622164414/http://earthquake-report.com/2011/06/22/unusual-series-of-moderate-volcanic-earthquakes-in-eritrea-and-ethiopia/|archive-date=22 June 2011|url-status=usurped}}

It was also reported that the Lake Afrera salt deposits now contain sulfuric acid, making the salt inedible.

On 6 July, reports suggest 48,000 people in the Bidu, Afdera, Erebti, Elidar, Teru and Kori woredas were in need of aid (with ash affecting food and water sources), and that the casualty total had reached 31 dead in the Bidu woreda.

Another 167,153 people, in the Elidar and Kori woredas, were reported as requiring monitoring according to the Afar regional government. However a spokesman for the Ethiopean Government Agriculture Ministry is reported to have said "We have looked at the document and I would like to make it clear that it is not a national document and that we have not endorsed it, the ministry has no record of casualties, it is still too early to say how many people had been affected and needed help."{{Cite web|title=ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Thousands need aid after volcano eruption |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93161 |date=6 July 2011}}

The erupting volcano is in the Afar Triangle, in the larger Danakil Depression that holds many other active volcanoes. However, neither volcano thought potentially responsible for the eruption had been active in the past century, with Dubbi last erupting in 1861 and Nabro remaining quiet for thousands of years. No eruption of Nabro occurred before in recorded history.[http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=50988&src=eorss-nh "Eruption at Nabro Volcano, Eritrea"], NASA Earth Observatory. 13 June 2011. Accessed 13 June 2011 Basalt, trachyte and rhyolite are among the rock types which Nabro has produced as lava flows and pyroclastics.[http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0201-101 Archived copy] {{webarchive|date=28 September 2004|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040928013453/http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0201-101}}

A series of moderate earthquakes occurred near a sparsely populated part of the Eritrea–Ethiopia border, starting at 15:37 UTC on Sunday, 12 June 2011. By 21:37 UTC, at least 19 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater had occurred.{{cite web|url=http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/Map/zoom.php?key=121&typ=euro#5|title=Map Zoom – LAT: 10 – 20; LON: 36 – 46|publisher=EMSC|date=18 June 2011|accessdate=18 June 2011}} The tremors were associated with this eruption.{{cite news|last=Stuff|first=NZ|title=Quake swarm hits Ethiopia-Eritrea|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/5136811/Quake-swarm-hits-Ethiopia-Eritrea|accessdate=13 June 2011|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|date=13 June 2011}} The initial quake registered a magnitude of 5.1 {{M|w|link=y}} with a focal depth of 10 km (6.2 mi), and was succeeded by multiple lighter tremors. Hours later, two consecutive magnitude 5.7 {{M|w|link=y}} earthquakes struck the region at 20:32 and 21:03 UTC, occurring at very similar depths.{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/45_10_eqs.php|title=Earthquake List for 10-degree Map Centered at 10°N, 45°E|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=18 June 2011|accessdate=18 June 2011}} The latter tremors resulted in localized strong shaking, registering at VII (very strong) on the Mercalli scale near the epicenters.{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc00045xc.php|title=Magnitude 5.7 – Eritrea – Ethiopia Region|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=12 June 2011|accessdate=12 June 2011}}

{{Commons category|2011 Nabro Eruption}}

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Nabro

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