The view from aboveThe following images from Earth orbit are used, instead of maps, to show major features referred to on other pages on Erta Ale.
A simple sketch map here. |
Erta Ale caldera from the Southeast. The active pit is the horizontal dark line in front of the steam plume. | 
Erta Ale's active pit and lava lake a seen from the approaching helicopter. The white steam plume comes from the North pit. | 
Aerial close-up of the lava lake. Note the crack along the pit's nearer rim. | 
The pit seen from the opposite direction as in the image on the left. The camp is above left. |
Erta Ale summit region from the West. Note how lava flows have spilled through a narrow gap on the left of the steaming North pit. | 
Erta Ale summit region from the South. | 
Erta Ale summit region: North pit steaming on the left; active pit left of centre. One of our seismic stations was located at the bright patch on the lower right. | 
Lava has flowed from Erta Ale towards the lowlands in the South. Note colour differences between flows of different ages. |
ASTER thermal-infrared composite image from NASA «Visible Earth» website (original image). The hot lava lake appears white, cold mountain tops dark). | 
Space shuttle astronaut photo from NASA «Earth from Space». | 
True-color MODIS image from 6.11.2001 from NASA «Visible Earth» website (original image). Red dots are forest fires (and Erta Ale!). | 
SeaWiFS true-color image 29.11.2000 on NASA «Visible Earth» website (original image); superimposed: Plate motion*.. |
*Data on plate motion and East African rift valley spreading rate from: A. Walpersdorf, C. Vigny, J. Ruegg, P. Huchon, L. M. Asfaw, and
S. Al Kirbash: 5 Years of GPS Observations in the Afar Triple Junction
Area (Postscript file to download); and Roger Bilham, University of Colorado, Earthquakes
and tectonic plate motions => Ethiopia.
Zoom in from outer space!
MODIS and SeaWiFS space images and aerial photos were combine to generate this virtual descent from outer space to Erta Ale:
QuickTime object (1.5Mb; drag mouse horizontally to zoom).
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