The new island is part of the Zubair Islands, located about 40 miles off the coast of Yemen. It is about 3,300 feet long and about 1,650 feet wide. This NASA image is from January 15.
Other volcano related news.
In Ethiopia, a party of tourists visiting Erta Ale volcano were attacked by gunman in the middle of the night at a camping spot on the crater rim. At least 5 were killed and several taken hostage. The 5 dead victims were from Germany (2), Hungary (2), and Austria (1). Two Germans and two Ethiopians were abducted. Seven other tourists were wounded. They were from Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Ethiopia. The gunmen were said to be a group of rebels from Eritea.
This new satellite image, acquired January 7, 2012, suggests that the eruption has risen nearly completely above water. A plume of steam, other volcanic gases, and ash spews from a distinct cone. The land surrounding the vent has grown, and is now about 530 by 710 meters (1,700 by 2,300 feet) across. Once above water, past eruptions in the Zubair Islands were primarily effusive, with relatively runny lava forming thin lava flows. In contrast to the fragmented rock that forms when lava interacts directly with water, lava that solidifies on land is tough, so this new island is likely to stick around.
There’s no super dramatic lava fountains or flows in the video, just a view from a copter of new volcano that’s appearing out of the red sea. (previous post: New Island?)
This month, a new island apparently has emerged from the waters of the Red Sea. On December 19, fisherman witnessed lava fountains rising as high as 90 feet above the water. Comparison of October 23 2007 (left) and December 23, 2011 images from NASA’s EO-1 satellite show what appears to be a new island.
The new island may not last long if it compose primarily from volcanic debris, which would erode more rapidly from wave action than solidified magma would.
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