Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Dallol (Danakil desert, Ethiopia): We present a selection of photographs taken on the 23rd of November 2015 during our first Danakil volcano expedition of this winter season! It seems that this phenomenal hydrothermal system is increasingly becoming drier (more shades of yellow-orange-brown and less green colours) in comparison to a few years ago, e.g. December 2010 following a particularly rainy period. What could be causing this gradual "dehydration" of the Dallol hot springs? Despite the fact there are currently 3 companies which will be extracting groundwater for the mining of potash from the local salts (used as fertilizer), neither one of them has actually started the production phase of their mining activities. So it is unlikely that they are the (main) reason for the slowly drying out of the Dallol hydrothermal field. A conversation with the chief of the local Afar village of Hamadela, discussing the influence of growing tourist numbers on his people and their ways of living, brought to light the area´s staggering drought problem. Whereas 18 months is the longest time span within his life (ca 45 years) over which there was no rain falling in the Dallol area, there has now been no rain for over 50 months...