Harrat Khaybar: An active lava field in Saudi Arabia

Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Harrat Khaybar, one of the largest volcanic fields in Saudi Arabia. This extensive lava field, which covers 5,400 square-miles, was formed by eruptions over the last five million years.

“According to the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program, the volcanic field is still active, and eight lava flows are less than 1,500 years old. The last known eruption was reported in Harrat Khaybar in the 7th century,” said NASA.

A couple of the youngest volcanic vents in Harrat Khaybar can be seen in this image, which was captured by the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9. 

Jabal Qidr 

“These volcanoes resulted from different eruptive styles: Jabal Qidr is a stratovolcano (or composite cone); Jabal Abyad is a felsic dome; and Jabal Bayda is a tuff cone,” explained NASA.

“Jabal Qidr, in the northern part of the volcanic field, is built from several generations of dark, basaltic lava flows. Qidr has a 400-meter-diameter summit crater and exhibits the textbook cone shape of a stratovolcano. This is the only stratovolcano in the harrats of western Saudi Arabia.”

Jabal Abyad 

Visible in the center of the image, Jabal Abyad was formed from a more viscous, silica-rich lava classified as rhyolite, noted NASA.

“While Jabal Qidr exhibits the cone shape of a stratovolcano, Jabal Abyad is a lava dome – a rounded mass of thicker, more solidified lava flows. Abyad’s dome reaches over 2,090 meters above sea level, the highest elevation amongst all the surrounding harrats.”

Jabal Bayda 

To the west of Jabal Abyad is Jabal Bayda, a tuff cone volcano with a much larger summit crater measuring 1,400 meters in diameter, stated NASA.

“Tuff cones form from the interaction of rising magma with water. When heated rapidly by lava, water turns to steam and expands violently, fragmenting the lava into plumes of very fine grains of ash.”

In Arabic, abyad and bayda are the masculine and feminine words for “white.” The lighter color of the mountains is associated with lava that has high silica content.

More about Harrat Khaybar 

One of the notable features of Harrat Khaybar is its striking contrast between the black basaltic lava fields and white-colored rhyolitic lava domes. This contrast creates a visually stunning terrain, with some areas of the field resembling a lunar or Martian landscape.

Harrat Khaybar is part of a larger series of harrats, or lava fields, which are prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula. The largest of these volcanic fields is Harrat Rahat, which stretches over 20,000 square kilometers.

The volcanic activity in Harrat Khaybar began millions of years ago and has continued into relatively recent times, with the last known eruptions occurring several thousand years ago.

The field is also notable for its archaeological sites, including ancient rock art, which provide insights into the early human habitation of the area.

The harsh environment of Harrat Khaybar has shaped both the natural ecosystem and the human activities throughout its history, making it a place of interest not only for volcanologists but also for archaeologists and ecologists.

Volcanic activity in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, despite being more commonly associated with vast deserts, has a surprising history of volcanic activity.

Volcanic eruptions have occurred over the past few thousand years, with the most recent major eruption occurring in the year 1256. That eruption, from a series of fissures, sent lava flowing towards the city of Medina, but it stopped before reaching the urban area. Historical records document the panic that followed, as people feared the destruction of the city.

While there hasn’t been a significant eruption since, there are still signs of geothermal activity, such as hot springs and occasional minor seismic activity.

Researchers monitor the volcanic fields for any signs of future eruptions, though none are currently expected. Despite the long periods of dormancy, Saudi Arabia’s volcanic landscape remains an important part of the country’s natural history.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

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