Seismic unrest near Fentale volcano persists month after rare methane emissions, Ethiopia
Nearly a month after satellites detected massive methane plumes spewing from Ethiopia’s Mount Fentale on January 31, 2025, new data shows emissions have declined since February 9—yet ongoing seismic unrest, including a magnitude 6.0 earthquake on February 14, keeps scientists and locals on high alert.
Methane emissions over Fentale volcano on January 31, 2025. Image credit: GHGSAT
Significant methane emissions were detected from Mount Fentale, a stratovolcano in Ethiopia’s Main Ethiopian Rift, on January 31, 2025.
The emissions were identified using the “tip-and-cue” method, which integrates data from Europe’s Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite and GHGSat’s high-resolution sensors. This discovery is unusual, as volcanic degassing is typically dominated by carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), with methane emissions being rare.
The January 31 finding was flagged by the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, which monitors methane plumes for the European Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS).
GHGSat’s targeted follow-up pinpointed the source at the volcano’s crater, estimating the emission rate at 58 metric tonnes per hour.
“This was a very surprising and exciting finding; we have never detected such large methane emissions from a volcanic area before,” said Ilse Aben, Senior Scientist at SRON and TROPOMI co-principal investigator.
Experts suggest the methane may stem from a shallow geothermal or hydrothermal reservoir beneath the volcano rather than direct magma degassing.
Prof. John Stix of McGill University noted that magma beneath Mount Fentale may have migrated northeast, creating new pathways for gas escape. “It will be very interesting to see if TROPOMI detects sulfur dioxide at Fentale in the coming weeks and months, which may signify magma degassing,” he said.
Satellite imagery from the UK Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tectonics (COMET) has identified a dike—a subsurface crack where magma intrudes—extending approximately 50 km (31 miles) from Mount Fentale toward Dofen volcano.
Local monitoring agencies report continued seismic swarms and ground deformation, with GHGSat noting a decline in methane emissions since February 9, though the cause remains unclear.
“Combining the regional-level view of TROPOMI with GHGSat’s ability to pinpoint emission sources, we can detect and quantify changes in greenhouse gases from low-Earth orbit—even from areas like an active volcano site,” said Stephane Germain, CEO of GHGSat, which recently joined the Copernicus Contributing Missions program.
The region’s instability intensified with a strong M6.0 earthquake near Fentale on February 14 at 20:28 UTC on February 14. This event followed a sharp increase in seismic activity since December 22, 2024, including over 20 earthquakes between January 4 and 6, ranging from 4.2 to 5.8 in magnitude.
The seismic unrest has displaced approximately 80 000 residents from Ethiopia’s Afar and Oromia regions, with steam vents and gas emissions observed but no confirmed eruption yet.
Scientists are still assessing risks, including potential eruptions from Fentale, Dofen, or a new vent.
Steam vents emitting gases have been observed though it remains uncertain whether a volcanic eruption will occur. Scientists are conducting assessments to understand the potential risks, including the possibility of an eruption from Fentale, Dofen, or a new volcanic vent.
Mount Fentale is a stratovolcanic complex in Ethiopia’s Main Ethiopian Rift with a prominent elliptical summit caldera measuring 2.5 x 4.5 km (1.6 x 2.8 miles) and steep-sided walls aligned perpendicular to the rift.
Its geological composition consists of rhyolitic obsidian lava flows, with additional trachytic, andesitic, and basaltic formations. The most recent confirmed eruption occurred in 1820 CE, when basaltic lava flowed from a 4 km long (2.5 miles) fissure on the southern flank, also reaching the caldera floor.
Historical records suggest an earlier eruption around the 13th century which destroyed an Abyssinian town and church. In 2015, seismic activity and ground deformation northeast of Fentale was linked to a 6 km (3.7 miles) long dike intrusion at depths of 5.4–8 km (3.3–5 miles).
Recent satellite monitoring by MIROVA detected thermal anomalies over Fentale’s crater between January 13 and 21, 2025, alongside visible gas plumes.
The region remains geologically active, with earthquakes and fissures affecting local infrastructure and prompting evacuations, as seen in early 2025 when over 54 000 people were displaced because of seismic hazards.
References:
1 GHGSAT & Sentinel-5P TROPOMI Satellites Detect Giant Methane Emission from Ethiopia’s Mount Fentale Volcano – GHGSAT – February 7, 2025
2 Fentale – GVP – Accessed on February 26, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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