✴ Bewketu et al., 2026, Results in Earth Sciences

Mapping subsurface lineaments beneath the Ethiopian plateaus and the adjoining Ethiopian rifts using gravity data: Implications for tectonic evolution of the underlying crust

The aim of this study is to map subsurface lineaments beneath the Ethiopian plateaus and the rifts (the Afar Depression, the main Ethiopian rift, and the southern Ethiopian rift) using aero gravity data. Linear structures of the earth known as geological lineaments……

✴ Melaku et al., 2026, Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Changing volatile emissions and sources along the Ethiopian Rift

Rift volcanoes are sites of intense volatile emissions. However, major uncertainties remain about the magnitude of rift volatile fluxes, particularly for greenhouse gases (e.g. CO₂) and whether along-rift variations in degassing relate to changing mantle sources and/or rifting processes (i.e. melt production and lithospheric thinning). Here, we investigate CO₂ flux and gas isotopes in Ethiopia; a mature, plume-influenced continental rift. We focus on one of the largest caldera volcanoes, Bora-Baricha-Tulu Moye (BBTM), which is situated in a region of high mantle melt production in the Central Main Ethiopian rift (∼500 km south-west the putative plume head)…….

✴ Wilkinson-Rowe et al., 2026, Quaternary Science Reviews

Refining Late Holocene explosive eruption histories of the Main Ethiopian Rift with lake sediment tephra records

The Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) hosts a rapidly growing population exposed to eruption hazards from ∼60 active Holocene volcanoes. The geological record preserves significant information about the nature and frequency of past explosive volcanism in the rift, but the Holocene eruption record remains incomplete and its implications for contemporary volcanic hazards are yet to be fully understood. Here we use lake sediments preserved at four sites: Babogaya (MER), Haro Kori and Wergoba (southeastern Ethiopian plateau), and Dendi (western Ethiopian plateau) to constrain the Late Holocene tephrostratigraphic record……

✴ Virchov et al., 2026, Journal of African Earth Sciences

Fluoride distribution in volcanic rocks of the Aluto volcano complex, Main Ethiopian Rift

High fluoride in groundwaters of the Main Ethiopian Rift is of geogenic origin. Although the involvement of volcanic rocks in fluoride enrichment is well documented, the specific mineralogical sources and dissolution mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study characterized the mineralogical sources of fluoride in volcanic rocks of the Aluto volcano complex, identifying the specific mineral phases and their fluoride concentration that control fluoride availability in volcanic aquifer systems…

✴ Wassihun et al., 2026, Journal of African Earth Sciences

Subsurface magmatic structure beneath the nested Awasa-Corbetti caldera complex, Main Ethiopian Rift, as determined from gravity data

The nested Awasa–Corbetti caldera complex (ACC) in the central Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) encompasses the Corbetti caldera complex, which is presently one of the volcanoes undergoing the most rapid uplift in the region and with notable seismic activity. Previous studies provided limited insight into the subsurface crustal structure and the magma plumbing systems beneath this active volcano. To address this gap, we used terrestrial gravity data combined with geological mapping, seismic, and magnetotelluric models to image the crustal structure. We analyzed the gravity data using wavelength filtering, upward continuation, and 2D forward modeling…..

✴ La Rosa et al., 2025, Frontiers in Earth Sciences

Segmented dike intrusion linked to multi-level magma storage during and before the 2025 eruption at Erta Ale (East Africa)

Dike intrusions can assist continental rifting and plate divergence. However, our understanding of the magma dynamics during diking and the architecture of the magma storage that feeds dikes are still limited by temporally and spatially sparse dataset…..

✴ Way et al., 2025, Bulletin of Volcanology

Real-time satellite monitoring of the 2024–2025 dyke intrusion sequence at Fentale-Dofen volcanoes, Ethiopia Rift

Seismic activity near Fentale volcano in the Main Ethiopian Rift started in late September 2024 and a M4.9 earthquake on 27th September was felt as far away as Addis Ababa (120 km) (Lewi et al. 2025). As ground access to part of the affected region was not possible, Addis Ababa University contacted several international organisations, including the UK Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET) to assist in analysing InSAR satellite data to help with the response. COMET responded by providing satellite observations of ground deformation and surface changes, and preliminary interpretations….

✴ Yemane et al., 2025, Geophysical Research Letters

Mapping Geothermal Fluids Using Seismic Absorption and Scattering: A Case Study From Aluto Volcano

Mapping the distribution of fluids in the subsurface around volcanoes is important for geothermal fluid exploration and exploitation. When seismic waves propagate through the subsurface, energy is dissipated by geometrical spreading, absorption, and scattering. Here, we use the absorption and scattering of seismic waves to map the distribution and pathways of fluids at Aluto volcano, a geothermal site in Ethiopia….

✴ Alemayehu et al., 2025, Frontiers in Earth Science

The first observation of seismicity beneath the northwestern Ethiopian plateau and its seismotectonic implications

The seismotectonics of the Northwestern (NW) Ethiopian plateau and the adjacent rift flanks were studied using local earthquake data recorded by broadband seismic networks. This include stations from the Ethiopian plateau network (2014–2016) as well as seven permanent Ethiopian seismic stations. A total of 800 earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from M_L∼1.1 to 4.6 were located. Seismicity clustered beneath the NW plateau, Fentale volcano, and the Guraghe border fault of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER)…

✴ Legesse and Mammo, 2025, Journal of Seismology

Seismic amplification of peak ground acceleration, velocity and displacement by 3D topographic irregularities along the Plateau-Rift margin of Ethiopia

We investigated the seismic amplification of peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and peak ground displacement (PGD) caused by realistic three-dimensional topographic irregularities. A numerical simulation method is used to study the significance of rugged topography on the seismic response of an area located on the escarpment along the western edge of the Afar triangle in Ethiopia. An earthquake of magnitude Mw 5.69 occurred in 2002 near Mekele city along the escarpment in the Afar-Tigray border….

✴ Zwaan et al., 2025, Tektonika

Local Strain Reorientation Explains Deformation of Rift-oblique Tectonic Lineaments Along the Main Ethiopian Rift

The interaction between the NE-SW striking Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) and the E-W oriented Yerer-Tullu Wellel Volcano-tectonic lineament (YTVL) represents one of the least understood tectonic problems in the East African Rift System. Despite the numerous studies that have been conducted in the region, the following questions still remain to be answered: did the MER and YTVL evolve simultaneously? Was there a change in plate motion direction to allow a diachronous evolution of the rift and the lineament? How does the E-W oriented YTVL remain active under ca. E-W oriented regional extension?….