Satellite images reveal extensive lava flows from Nyamulagira, DR Congo
Featured image: Nyamulagira volcano satellite image acquired on August 4, 2024. Credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, Culture Volcan
A new lava arm has emerged on the western side of Nyamulagira volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, extending over 7 km (3.1 miles) north-northwest of the northern crater rim, as revealed by satellite images on August 4, 2024.
A new lava arm recently formed on the western side of Nyamulagira volcano. On July 30, satellite images based on thermal anomalies showed lava flows extending over 5 km (3.1 miles) north-northwest of Nyamulagira’s northern crater rim and a new flow extending almost 2 km (1.2 miles) west of the northwestern crater rim.
Satellite images acquired on August 4 showed the northwestern lava flow is now 7 km (4.35 miles) long and the western lava flow is 5 km (3.1 miles) long from the active vent. However, weather clouds obscured parts of the north-northwestern flow, possibly including its furthest extent.
A thermally anomalous area about 800 m (2 625 feet) east-west and more than 1.1 km (0.68 miles) north-south was centered over the crater’s vent area.
Another branch of the active lava, oozing out from the lava lake, formed on the western slope and continues to advance westward since the lava started to flow beyond the northern caldera rim, as detectable in Sentinel-2 imagery from July 30.
Nyamulagira is a massive high-potassium basaltic shield about 25 km (15.5 miles) north of Lake Kivu and 13 km (8 miles) north-northwest of the steep-sided Nyiragongo volcano. It is currently Africa’s most active volcano.
The summit is truncated by a small 2 x 2.3 km (1.2 x 1.4 miles) caldera with walls up to about 100 m (328 feet) high. Documented eruptions have occurred within the summit caldera and from numerous flank fissures and cinder cones.
A lava lake in the summit crater, active since 1921, drained in 1938 during a major flank eruption. Recent lava flows extend down the flanks more than 30 km (18.6 miles) from the summit to as far as Lake Kivu. Extensive lava flows from this volcano have covered 1 500 km2 (579 mi2) of the western branch of the East African Rift.
References:
1 Report on Nyamulagira (DR Congo) — July 24 – 30, 2024 – GVP – Accessed August 5, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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