How is Erta Ale formed?

Beneath the ground surrounding Erta Ale is an enormous pool of active magma. The lake goes through cycles and will cool, form a black layer on top, and then suddenly convect back into liquid lava. Occasionally, due to pressure, “fountains” of lava will form, spewing lava in 6- to 13-foot-high plumes.

What type of volcano is Erta Ale?

basaltic shield volcano
“Erta’Ale is a basaltic shield volcano, 500 m high, with a base 50 km across.

What is so special about the Erta Ale volcano?

While there are only five known volcanos with lava lakes globally, Erta Ale often has two active lava lakes, making it a unique site. Erta Ale was discovered in 1906, which also makes it the longest-known lava lake. Beneath the ground surrounding Erta Ale is an enormous pool of active magma.

What type of plate boundary is Mt Rainier?

The tectonic setting for Mt. Rainier is a divergent boundary and subduction zone of the Juan de Fuca Plate and the North American Plate. The type of magma that will erupt from Mt. Rainier is andesite.

What caused Erta Ale to erupt?

Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano. The volcano comprises mainly mafic material which has been brought up to the surface caused by unroofing of the mantle due to this rift formation.

When was the last eruption of Erta Ale?

2009Erta Ale / Last eruption

When did the Erta Ale volcano last erupt?

What continent is Erta Ale volcano?

Africa
Tectonic setting: Erta Ale (meaning “smoking mountain”) is part of theEast African Rift, where the African Continent is tearing apart along a seam that runs from the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden (two other arms of the rift themselves) south through eastern Africa.

When did Erta Ale first erupt?

Erta Ale has undergone seven eruption events in the past 125 years. Three of the early eruption dates, 1873, 1903, and 1904 are uncertain. However, 1906, 1940, 1960, and 1967 are well established events. Erta Ale has been erupting continuously since 1967.

Is Mt Rainier a convergent boundary?

The Cascade Range, in which Mount Rainier is located, is a perfect example of a fundamental concept in geology. It involves a common convergent interaction between tectonic plates where two plates collide and the resulting chain of volcanoes that forms parallel to and inland from the plate boundary.

Is Mount Rainier near any plate boundaries?

Mount Rainier (Figure 2.1) is one of about two dozen recently active volcanoes in the Cascade Range, a volcanic arc formed by subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath the North American plate.

Is Erta Ale an explosive volcano?

Erta Ale (or Ertale or Irta’ale; Amharic: ኤርታሌ) is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. It is situated in the Afar Depression, a barren desert area. Erta Ale is the most active volcano in Ethiopia….

What are the geologic features near Erta Ale?

Geologic features near Erta Ale, Afar region. Erta Ale is a shield volcano in the Afar region of East Africa. Erta Ale is a remote and rarely visited volcano that is known currently to have an active lava lake in its summit crater. Erta Ale has undergone seven eruption events in the past 125 years.

Is the Erta Ale Range the best available science?

At the time of publication, it represented the best available science. The Erta Ale Range is a volcanic chain in Ethiopia’s Afar Region, part of the East African Rift System where tectonic plates are pulling apart. In early November 2008, a volcanic eruption occurred in this region, producing an extensive lava flow.

Where is Erta Ale volcano located?

Erta Ale is a shield volcano in the Afar region of East Africa. Erta Ale is a remote and rarely visited volcano that is known currently to have an active lava lake in its summit crater. Erta Ale has undergone seven eruption events in the past 125 years.

How did the Erta Ale get its name?

This volcanic range derives its name from its most prominent feature, the Erta Ale Volcano. Erta Ale is a shield volcano with low, broad contours that resemble an ancient warrior shield. Spanning 50 kilometers (31 miles), it reaches a height of just over 600 meters (2,000 feet), and its base rests below sea level.