Iran's Taftan Volcano Rises 3.5 Inches in 10 Months as Pressure Builds Near Summit
Updated
Updated · Earth.com · May 20
Iran's Taftan Volcano Rises 3.5 Inches in 10 Months as Pressure Builds Near Summit
2 articles · Updated · Earth.com · May 20
Satellite radar detected about 3.5 inches of uplift at Iran's Taftan volcano over a little more than 10 months, with the ground still elevated rather than subsiding.
Modeling places the pressure source just 1,600 to 2,070 feet below the summit, pointing to gas accumulation in a shallow hydrothermal system rather than fresh magma rising from the deeper reservoir.
Researchers said heavy rain and nearby earthquakes do not explain the signal; the uplift slowed as cracks likely opened and some gas escaped, but pressure has not fully bled off.
The main near-term risk is not lava but phreatic blasts and gas releases, with Khash about 31 miles away and potentially exposed to sulfur-bearing emissions when winds shift.
Because Taftan is remote and lacks continuous GPS and seismic instruments, the study urges Iranian authorities to add gas, seismic and ground-motion monitoring while satellites keep watch.
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Taftan’s 700,000-Year Silence Broken: Unrest, Hazards, and the Need for Modern Volcano Monitoring
Overview
After 700,000 years of complete silence, Iran’s Taftan volcano—once thought extinct—showed its first signs of unrest between July 2023 and May 2024. Scientists detected significant ground deformation at the summit, measuring about 3.5 inches of uplift using Sentinel-1 satellite radar and InSAR technology. This unexpected activity challenges Taftan’s extinct status, suggesting it is now dormant and capable of future eruptions. The report highlights how advanced monitoring revealed this dramatic change, emphasizing the importance of continuous observation for understanding and preparing for volcanic hazards in regions previously considered inactive.