HR: 0800h
AN: V11D-0817    [Abstracts]
TI: ASTER Observations of Recent Thermal Activity and Explosive Eruption at Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania
AU: * Vaughan, R G
EM: greg.vaughan@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Abrams, M J
EM: Michael.J.Abrams@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Kervyn, M
EM: Matthieu.KervynDeMeerendre@UGent.be
AF: Ghent University, Department of Geology and Soil Sciences, Gent, 281/S8, Belgium
AU: Hook, S J
EM: simon.j.hook@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AB: Oldoinyo Lengai (OL) is the only active volcano in the world that produces natro-carbonatite lava. These carbonate-rich lavas are unique in that they have relatively low temperatures (500-600 C) compared with typical silicate lavas (600-1100 C), and they have a low viscosity, behaving more like a mud flow than a lava flow. OL has been erupting on and off since 1983, mostly resulting in small lava flows, pools and spatter cones (hornitos) confined to the summit crater. Explosive, ash-producing eruptions here are rare, however, an ASTER observation from September 4, 2007 caught the first satellite image of an ash plume erupting from OL, which may be indicative of a new phase of more silica-rich products and explosive activity that has not occurred here since the 1960s. Thermal infrared satellite monitoring has detected an increasing number of thermal anomalies around OL in recent months. MODIS MODVOLC data detected >30 hot spots in the last week of August and first week of September 2007, some of which may have been brush fires started by lava flows or spatter; ASTER detected the appearance of an anomalous hot spot at the summit of OL as early as mid-June. We will present up-to date information about the progress of the eruption and results from the analysis of the spectral composition of new eruption products and thermal anomalies that occurred prior to the recent explosive eruption. OL is one of many volcanoes in the world, and especially Africa, that is not regularly monitored. It is only through sporadic reports from locals or tourists in the area, and satellite data that we know anything at all about this volcanic eruption. Continued satellite monitoring along with studies of past thermal activity will help determine how future eruptions may be forecasted.
DE: 8419 Volcano monitoring (7280)
DE: 8485 Remote sensing of volcanoes
DE: 8494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 8499 General or miscellaneous
DE: 9305 Africa
SC: Volcanology, Geochemistry, Petrology [V]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting