Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts for the first time in 12000 years sparking satellite monitoring

On November 23, 2025, the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in northeast Ethiopia erupted, a significant geological event after being inactive for approximately 12,000 years. The eruption sent a substantial cloud of ash and sulfur dioxide soaring into the atmosphere. The remote location of the volcano, surrounded by largely uninhabited terrain, has made satellite technology crucial for observing such incidents, as on-the-ground access is challenging.

The Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite has been instrumental in capturing images of this unexpected eruption. It recorded two significant images: the first taken on the day of the eruption, showing the initial sulfur dioxide plume emanating from the volcano and beginning to drift towards the east over the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. The second image, taken the following day on November 24, illustrates how the plume has shifted northeastward, impacting the coasts of Yemen, Oman, and the Arabian Sea.

Sentinel-5 Precursor is noteworthy as the first mission in the Copernicus program focused specifically on atmospheric monitoring. It’s equipped with the Tropomi instrument, which enables the mapping of various trace gases and aerosols that play critical roles in air quality and climate regulation. Furthermore, the recent launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-5A, part of the second generation of MetOp satellites, enhances this capability by providing daily global assessments of atmospheric components, including key pollutants and climate variables that contribute to understanding our environment’s health and the protective role of stratospheric ozone against ultraviolet radiation.