Why is it in News?
- Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted after ~10,000 years of dormancy, sending massive ash plumes up to 14 km into the atmosphere.
- Ash travelled across Red Sea → Yemen → Oman → India, entering through Rajasthan and drifiting toward Delhi, UP, Bihar, Northeast.
- DGCA issued urgent advisories directing all Indian airlines to avoid ash-affected flight routes and altitudes.
- Multiple flight diversions and cancellations (e.g., Indigo Kannur–Abu Dhabi flight diverted to Ahmedabad).
- Raises major concerns about aviation safety, atmospheric circulation patterns, and volcanic hazards in South Asia.
Relevance
GS3 – Disaster Management
- Aviation hazard management; ICAO compliance.
- Early warning & ash cloud monitoring systems.
GS1 – Geography
- East African Rift dynamics; Afar triple junction.
- Atmospheric transport of aerosols affecting distant regions.
Where is the Hayli Gubbi Volcano?
- Located in Afar Depression, northern Ethiopia.
- Part of the East African Rift System (EARS), one of the world’s most active tectonic zones.
- A rift volcano associated with continental plate divergence (African Plate splitting into Nubia and Somalia plates).
- Dormant for ~10,000 years → now active.
Type of Volcano & Eruption Characteristics
- Rift-zone basaltic volcano (common to Afar).
- Eruption produced:
- High-altitude ash plume (up to 14 km) reaching the tropopause.
- Volcanic ash and fine pyroclasts carried by upper-level winds.
- No major lava flow reported; eruption dominated by explosive ash generation.
Path of Ash Transport (Atmospheric Science)
- Strong westerlies and subtropical jet stream transported ash eastwards.
- Sequence: Ethiopia → Red Sea → Yemen → Oman → Arabian Sea → India.
- Entered India via western Rajasthan, then moving northeast.
- Expected spread: Delhi (near midnight), UP, Bihar, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh.
Why Volcanic Ash is Dangerous for Aviation ?
- Extremely abrasive fine particles of glassy volcanic silica.
- At engine temperatures, ash melts → forms glass-like coating → sticks to turbine blades → engine stall/failure.
- Can cause:
- Compressor surges / flameouts
- Erosion of fan blades
- Pitot tube blockage → instrument failure
- Windshield abrasion → visibility loss
- Damage to avionics & filters
- Worst-case: multi-engine failure (e.g., 1982 BA Flight 9, 1989 KLM Alaska incident).
DGCA Advisory — Key Directives
- Avoid flights through ash-contaminated airspace/altitudes.
- Mandatory reporting of:
- Engine performance changes
- Smoke/odour in cabin
- Airports:
- Inspect runways for ash deposits
- Restrict/suspend operations if contamination detected
- India’s first large-scale volcanic ash intrusion in years → precautionary measures intensified.
Impact on India
- Flight disruptions: diversions, cancellations, re-routing.
- Visibility reduction possible in some sectors.
- Surface-level impact limited, as ash concentrations dilute with distance.
- Health impact low but sensitive groups may feel irritation if ash reaches ground level.
- Meteorology impact:
- Potential scattering of sunlight, minor cooling effect locally
- Monitoring by IMD, satellite agencies
Geological Significance
- Shows the tectonic dynamism of the Afar Triple Junction where Africa is splitting.
- Could indicate increased rifting activity in East Africa.
- Afar Depression is one of the only places where mid-ocean ridge volcanism occurs on land.
Why Volcano Ash Can Travel to India ?
- High-altitude eruption reaching jet stream level (approx. 12–16 km).
- Jet streams can carry ash thousands of kilometres rapidly.
- Dry conditions over the Arabian region prevent washout, allowing long-distance travel.
