Paper: GS – I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Geomorphology, Issue: Hayli Gubbi volcano.
Context:
The recent eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, its first in around 12,000 years, released massive ash plumes up to 14 km high.
Key Takeaways:
- These ash clouds spread across multiple countries, reached Indian airspace, and led to widespread flight cancellations and diversions.
Located in: It lies in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia, at the southern end of the Erta Ale volcanic range, one of the most active tectonic and volcanic zones in the world.
History Background: No confirmed eruptions for 10,000–12,000 years (Holocene).
- On 23 November 2025, a sudden sub-plinian eruption produced an ash plume reaching 45,000 ft (FL450).
- The plume drifted across Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and then moved east toward western India.
Key Features:
- Shield volcano type broad, low-gradient, large lava fields.
- Part of the divergent plate boundary where the African Plate is rifting.
- Eruption produced volcanic ash, SO₂, glass shards, and rock particles transported at high altitudes (15,000–45,000 ft).
- Classified as sub-plinian due to vertical column height and ash dispersal scale.
Why Volcanic Ash is Dangerous for Aircraft:
Past Incidents1982:
- A British Airways Boeing 747 lost power in all four engines after encountering volcanic ash from Mount Galunggung (Indonesia).
- Pilots glided the plane out of the ash cloud and managed to restart engines.
- 1989: A KLM Boeing 747 flying over Alaska lost all four engines after entering an ash cloud from Mount Redoubt.
- Although engines were restarted, the plane suffered damage worth over $80 million.
Volcanic ash is a silent but severe hazard for aviation, primarily because it cannot be easily detected by onboard radar and has catastrophic potential if ingested by jet engines.
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