Large lava flows form in first eruption at Fernandina volcano since 2020 – Galapagos, Ecuador

A new eruption started at Ecuador’s Fernandina volcano in the Galapagos archipelago at 04:50 UTC on Sunday, March 3, 2024. IGEPN volcanologists said deformation data suggests this eruption will be larger than those observed in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

A new eruption started at Fernandina volcano at 04:50 UTC on Sunday, March 3, 2024 (23:50 local time on March 2), with a new lava effusion observed emerging from a 3 – 5 km (1.8 – 3.1 miles) long fissure on the upper southeastern slope of the volcano, also known as La Cumbre. This event marks the volcano’s first eruptive activity since January 2020, which was rated at a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 0.

The emerging lava flows have covered a distance of 5 – 6 km (3.1 – 3.7 miles) from the fissure within the first couple of hours.

Satellite imagery acquired by GOES-16 and VIIRS, alongside near-polar satellites SUOMI-NPP and NOAA-20, captured over 1 000 thermal anomalies, indicating the significant scale of the eruption. Additionally, a gas-steam plume containing ash has been observed rising 2 – 3 km (1.2 – 1.8 miles) above the volcano’s summit, spreading in multiple directions.

The Ecuadorian Geophysical Institute (IGEPN) said the island of Fernandina has no human settlements, and therefore there are no risks for people. Its ecological value is very high because its ecosystems host unique species such as terrestrial and marine iguanas, snakes, endemic rats, non-flying cormorants, and penguins, among others.

The eruption follows increased seismicity detected in the latter half of 2023, culminating in 80 cm (31.5 inches) ground deformation.

Ground deformation data suggests it is likely that the current eruption will be larger than those observed in 2017 (VEI 2), 2018 (VEI 1), and 2020 (VEI 0), IGEPN said.

Eruptive scenarios suggest that, along with lava flows, forest fires and explosive interactions between lava and seawater can be expected. The prevailing wind direction should protect populated islands from gas and ash plumes, although shifts in wind could alter this.

VOLCANES DEL MUNDO 🌋 Durante esta madrugada el Instituto Geofísico de Ecuador 🇪🇨 (#IGEPN) indicó que a las 02:50 HCL (23:50 hora Galápagos) el volcán Fernandina (La Cumbre), ubicado en el archipiélago de las Galápagos, entró en erupción luego de 4 años.

📷 Walter Campoverde. pic.twitter.com/1WwEUDWc2B

— Red Geocientífica de Chile (@RedGeoChile) March 3, 2024

¿Cuanto durará la nueva erupción del volcán #LaCumbre? 🌋

No es posible saber con exactitud, pero el #IGEPN (mediante sus análisis) hizo énfasis en un periodo eruptivo importante quizá mayor a los observados en el 2017, 2018 y 2020. pic.twitter.com/WMOyzUyUJW

— Divulgación Científica (@Sargox) March 3, 2024

Fernandina, the most active volcano in the Galápagos and proximate to the Galápagos mantle plume, is a basaltic shield volcano characterized by its “overturned soup bowl” profile and a deep 5 x 6.5 km (3.1 – 4 miles) summit caldera. The caldera, elongated in a NW-SE direction, has experienced multiple collapse events. Eruptions, typically emanating from the caldera’s circumferential fissures, have shaped the volcano’s history, including the notable 1968 event that drastically altered the caldera’s landscape.

With a record of 28 to 30 eruptions since 1800, Fernandina has the highest eruption recurrence rate in the Galapagos Islands.

Update

14:28 UTC, March 5

Effusive eruption at the volcano continues with several lava flows on the SSE slope of the volcano.

The volcano is producing low gas and steam emissions with little to no ash content.

While some reports yesterday mentioned one or more lava flows reached the ocean, it doesn’t seem they were correct or were very small.

Satellite imagery acquired at 14:00 UTC today:

Buenos Aires VAAC had no advisories issued for the volcano since the start of the eruption.

References:

¹ Special Volcanic Reports – Fernandina No. 2024-001 – March 3, 2024

² Fernandina – Geological summary – GVP

Featured image: Lava flows at Fernandina volcano on March 3, 2024. Credit: IGEPN/Walter Campoverde.