Understanding the Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption and Its Impact on India

Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption: Key Facts and India’s Precautions

The recent eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has drawn significant attention in India as its ash plume drifts across the Arabian Sea towards the subcontinent. This guide explains the volcano, the eruption, ash transport, and India’s current measures.

1. Where is the Hayli Gubbi volcano?

Hayli Gubbi is located in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley, part of the East African Rift System, one of the world’s most active tectonic regions. The volcano sits in a zone where the African Plate is slowly splitting into two:

• Nubian Plate
• Somali Plate

This rifting causes frequent volcanic activity.

2. What type of volcano is Hayli Gubbi?

It is a stratovolcano, known for strong ash emissions, explosive eruptions, and the ability to send ash plumes high into the atmosphere. Such volcanoes are common along major rifts and subduction zones.

3. What triggered the latest eruption?

While detailed scientific studies are ongoing, the eruption is linked to:

• Magma movement under the rift
• Accumulation of pressure
• Release of trapped gases

These are typical processes for East African Rift volcanoes, which are among the fastest-changing continental plate systems.

4. How large is this eruption?

Early satellite images show:

• A high vertical ash plume
• Ash spreading towards the Arabian Peninsula and western India
• Elevated SO₂ release, common in East African eruptions

Meteorological agencies classify the plume as significant but not catastrophic.

5. Why is the ash drifting towards India?

Upper-atmospheric wind patterns over the Arabian Sea are responsible. At this time of year, tropical easterly jets and westerly upper-tropospheric winds can transport ash clouds:

Ethiopia → Arabian Peninsula → Arabian Sea → Western India

This is similar to how dust from the Gulf region occasionally reaches western India.

6. What is the expected path of the ash over India?

Based on the IMD and global models, ash is initially seen over western Rajasthan and may move northeastwards, potentially spreading over central India, Delhi, parts of Bihar, northeastern states, and eastern Himalayan regions. Its movement depends on jet stream shifts and wind speed.

7. Why is this eruption a concern for aviation?

Volcanic ash contains sharp, glass-like particles that can:

• Damage and melt inside aircraft engines
• Reduce visibility
• Stick to turbine blades and sensors
• Create smoke-like smells inside cabins

This is why the DGCA has asked airlines to avoid affected air corridors and maintain safe altitudes.

8. What precautions has India taken?

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has:

• Issued fresh advisories to all airlines
• Directed airports to inspect runways for ash contamination
• Asked airlines to adjust flight paths
• Coordinated with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
• Monitored ash movement via IMD satellites and global tracking models

9. Does volcanic ash impact health on the ground in India?

Ash concentration is expected to be very low when it reaches Indian cities. In general, volcanic ash can cause:

• Breathing difficulties
• Eye irritation
• Surface contamination
• Harm to crops if deposition is heavy

In this case, such risk is minimal.

10. Why is East Africa so volcanic?

The East African Rift is one of Earth’s major active geological features due to:

• A giant mantle plume rising below the crust
• Continental plates pulling apart
• Thin, weakened crust allowing magma to rise easily

Famous volcanoes in the region include Nyiragongo, Erta Ale, Nabro, and Ol Doinyo Lengai.

11. What makes this event important for India?

This eruption demonstrates:

• How global physical systems directly affect India
• The importance of aviation resilience
• The value of satellite-based monitoring
• The need to test disaster-mitigation systems
• Improvement of forecasting for future ash events affecting Indian airspace