Volcanoes are known for spewing carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur into the atmosphere—but methane? That’s highly unusual. Yet that’s exactly what GHGSat satellites detected from Mount Fentale in Ethiopia.
In a recent New Scientist feature, Jason McKeever, Director, Science & Systems at GHGSat, shared insights into this unexpected discovery. This discovery was first made by a European Union satellite, Sentinel-5P TROPOMI, further prompting GHGSat to take a closer look at the massive methane plumes rising from the crater—marking the first volcanic emissions detected by satellites. On January 31, GHGSat satellites measured methane emissions at a staggering rate of 58 tons per hour, equivalent to the daily emissions from burning 20 million kilograms of coal. The emission was observed through a “tip and cue” approach between Europe’s Copernicus program’s Sentinel-5P TROPOMI satellite instrument and GHGSAT’s satellite constellation, coordinated by SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and GHGSAT.
Methane emissions from volcanoes are rare, making this a particularly intriguing case. Unlike the more common volcanic gases, methane is usually associated with biological or fossil fuel sources. Scientists are now investigating where this methane is coming from, and one theory is that the shifting magma beneath Mount Fentale may have disturbed an underground methane reservoir, releasing gas into the air. Recent weeks have seen heightened seismic activity around Mount Fentale, a prominent stratovolcano located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Local geological monitoring agencies have reported multiple earthquakes and signs of potential magma movement beneath the surface.
Since the initial detection, GHGSat satellites have continued to monitor the volcano, noting a decline in emissions after February 9. Seismic activity has also slowed, following a series of earthquakes that displaced tens of thousands of people. This discovery highlights the growing role of satellites in tracking emissions, not just from human-made sources like oil and gas operations but also from unexpected natural events.
Check out the full article in the New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2468644-volcano-in-ethiopia-is-releasing-unusually-large-plumes-of-methane/
