Corbetti
Caldera in Ethiopia
Key Facts
Elevation
2,289 m (7,510 ft)
Type
Caldera
Location
7.193°, 38.390°
Region
Main Ethiopian Rift Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Rhyolite
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Corbetti is is one of the largest calderas (15. 6 x 10. 9 km) within the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER).
As summarized by Colby et al. (2022), it has followed an evolutionary pattern similar to other caldera volcanoes within the MER, beginning with a shield-building phase of peralkaline rhyolite lava flows, followed by at least one caldera-forming eruption, the inferred deposits of which are dated to ca. 182 ± 28 ka (Hutchison et al.
, 2016). Subsequent volcanism focused around three post-caldera edifices (Artu, Urji, and Chabbi) and a rhyolitic cone (Biftu Tuff Cone), situated outside the south-eastern caldera wall.... The eroded remains of Artu cone partly cover the northeastern section of the caldera, and younger products from Chabbi shield entirely cover the eastern portion of the caldera wall.
" The Wendo Koshe Younger Pumice (WKYP) has been 14C dated by Rapprich et al. (2016) to around 396 BCE; stratigraphic correlations indicate more recent eruptions, including four obsidian lava flows (Rapprich et al. , 2016) and possibly two smaller explosive eruptions (Colby et al.
, 2022). Additional undated deposits are present between the WKYP event and the formation of the Biftu Tuff Cone after 5425 BCE (Colby et al. , 2022).
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows and surges
- Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
- Ash fall and tephra deposits
- Lahars and debris flows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 2422 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 221290
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Chebbi volcano, rising to the N across Awasa lake, is a large obsidian dome constructed on the SE rim of the 15-km-wide Corbetti caldera, which itself lies within the NW side of the larger Awasa caldera. Lava flows extend into the caldera itself; the southern rim forms the low saddle to the left. The age of the latest eruption of Corbetti is not known, although fumarolic activity continues.
Photo by Giday Wolde-Gabriel (Los Alamos National Laboratory).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.