Erta Ale volcano (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): significant return of lava lake to northern pit crater after 50 years, both pit craters are active

 After 50 years of calm within the northern pit crater, lava returned to it on 27 January.

The expedition leader, geologist and local guide Enku Mulugeta from VolcanoDiscovery Ethiopia has been monitoring the volcano over the past two weeks.

A new lava lake started to occupy the crater floor, which is currently hidden from view due to lava. Slabs of dark, solidified crust continue to shift on the lava lake surface accompanied by the typical bright orange lava glow between them. A vigorous lava spattering continues to build a steep-sided spatter cone (also called a hornito currently) above a fissure vent feeding the lava into the bottom of the crater.

At present, the full-scale effusive eruption has covered an estimated 350 meters in diameter with a depth of about 15 meters so far.

The latest satellite image from Sentinel-2 confirms a strong thermal anomaly affecting the whole crater area.

The steep-sided hornito within the southern pit crater continues to build itself protruding from the crater floor. Vigorous lava spattering continues to eject juvenile, fresh and plastic lava clots that have already piled into 10 meters high deposits. This activity is accompanied by constant glowing steam.