In News:

A recent scientific study has revealed renewed geological activity at Mount Taftan, a stratovolcano in southeastern Iran, raising concerns among volcanologists and regional authorities. The volcano, believed to have remained inactive for nearly 700,000 years, has exhibited ground uplift and increased gas emissions, suggesting possible magmatic or hydrothermal movement beneath the surface.

Key Findings from Recent Study

• Research published in Geophysical Research Letters notes that ground near Taftan’s summit rose by ~9 cm between July 2023 and May 2024.
• Persistent uplift signals buildup of gas pressure below the volcano.
• Residents reported strong sulfurous fumes, detectable up to 50 km away in the city of Khash.
• Satellite monitoring (ESA’s Sentinel-1) indicated activity in absence of ground-based GPS stations.

Scientists stress there is no immediate eruption threat, but the volcano should be reclassified from "extinct" to dormant and monitored more closely due to increasing activity.

About Taftan Volcano

• Location: Southeastern Iran, ~56 km from Pakistan border
• Elevation:3,940 m (12,927 ft)
• Type: Semi-active stratovolcano (composite volcano)
• Volcanic Arc: Only active volcano in the Makran subduction zone
• Geological Setting: Formed due to subduction of Arabian oceanic crust beneath Eurasian plate
• Key Features: Two summits — Narkuh and Matherkuh
• Activity Indicators:
  • Active hydrothermal system
  • Sulfur-emitting vents (fumaroles)
  • No recorded eruptions in human history

What is a Stratovolcano?

• Tall, steep-sided cone-shaped volcano
• Commonly found along convergent plate boundaries
• Composed of alternating lava flows and pyroclastic deposits
• Eruptions tend to be explosive due to viscous magma (andesite/dacite)
• Examples: Mt. Fuji, Mt. St. Helens, Vesuvius, Krakatoa