In January 2025, Mount Fentale, a stratovolcano in Ethiopia's Afar region, released an unusually high volume of methane emissions. On January 31, satellite monitoring detected 58 metric tonnes per hour of methane escaping from the volcano. This was identified through a collaboration between the European Space Agency’s Copernicus program and GHGSat, a Canadian greenhouse gas monitoring organization.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping about 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Typically, volcanoes emit gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, making this large methane release highly unusual. Scientists believe the movement of underground magma may have fractured subsurface gas deposits, allowing methane to escape.
The methane emissions began to decline by February 9, 2025, but this event has highlighted the importance of advanced satellite monitoring in tracking greenhouse gas emissions from natural sources. Researchers are now studying its potential impact on local ecosystems and global climate patterns.
About Mount Fentale
- Location: Awash National Park, Ethiopia
- Elevation: 2,007 meters
- Crater Depth: ~350 meters
- Last Known Eruption: 1820
- Characteristics: Stratovolcano with a history of infrequent eruptions
Impact of the Ethiopian Volcanic Methane Emission
- Climate Implications: The large-scale release of methane raises concerns about its contribution to global warming.
- Geological Concerns: The event suggests possible underground activity, though no direct signs of an imminent eruption have been confirmed.
- Scientific Significance: This is one of the first recorded cases of a volcano emitting such a high methane concentration, prompting further geological and climate studies.
- Environmental Monitoring: Calls for enhanced satellite and ground-based observation to detect and assess such emissions in real time.
While methane levels have since declined, this event underscores the need for continuous monitoring of volcanic regions for unexpected greenhouse gas emissions.