Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for The Barrier.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for The Barrier.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for The Barrier.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Sil | Nagaramasaina

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Andrew's Cone
    Likayu
    Lugugugut
    Sugobo

Stratovolcano

915 m

2° 20' 0" N

36° 33' 0" E

Kakorinya

Shield volcano

1030 m

2° 19' 0" N

36° 34' 0" E

Kalolenyang

Shield volcano

1128 m

2° 19' 0" N

36° 31' 0" E

Likaiu East

Shield volcano

Likaiu West

Shield volcano

Murniau

Tuff cone

Nabuyatom
Naboiyoton

Tuff cone

582 m

2° 26' 0" N

36° 38' 0" E

Nagira Mwaiten

Cone

Namurinyang

Tuff cone

735 m

2° 15' 0" N

36° 38' 0" E

Naperito
Cathedral Rock

Tuff cone

414 m

2° 13' 0" N

36° 35' 0" E

Teleki's Cone

Cone

646 m

2° 22' 0" N

36° 36' 0" E

Wargess
Abili Agituk

Tuff cone

573 m

2° 26' 0" N

36° 36' 0" E

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Logkipi Geyser

Geyser

Suguta-Logkipi
    Saguta Swamp
    Sukuta See
    Engare Sukuta
    Lokippi

Thermal

425 m

2° 15' 0" N

36° 35' 0" E

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

222030

1921 CE

1,032 m / 3,386 ft

2.32°N
36.57°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Shield

Volcano Types
Shield
Caldera
Pyroclastic cone(s)

Rock Types

Major
Trachyte / Trachydacite
Phonolite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Trachyandesite / Basaltic Trachyandesite
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

17
112
4,180
109,675

Geological Summary

The Barrier volcanic complex separates Lake Turkana from the broad Suguta Trough to the S, the site of a former lake. The volcano is comprised of four overlapping shield volcanoes, with the youngest, Kakorinya, located over the axis of the East African Rift. Kalolenyang volcano lies W of Kakorinya, and Likaiu West and Likaiu East are located to the ENE. A 3.8-km-wide summit caldera was formed at Kakorinya about 92,000 years ago. Youthful-looking trachytic and phonolitic lava domes and flows erupted within the caldera and along its ring fracture fill much of the caldera floor. Early Holocene fissure-related scoria cones and lava flows dot the S and N flanks. Solfataric fields are located within the caldera and on the W and S flanks. Historical eruptions from Teleki's and Andrew's cones on the N and S flanks, respectively, have produced basaltic explosive activity and lava flows during the 19th and 20th centuries.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Bloomer S H, Curtis P C, Karson J A, 1989. Geochemical variation of Quaternary basaltic volcanoes in the Turkana Rift, northern Kenya. J African Earth Sci, 8: 511-532.

Campbell Smith W, 1938. Petrographic description of volcanic rocks from Turkana, Kenya Colony, with notes on their field occurrence from the manscript of Mr. A.M. Champion. Quart J Geol Soc London, 94: 528-531.

Dodson R G, 1963. Geology of the South Horr area. Geol Surv Kenya Rpt, 60: 1-53.

Dunkley P N, Smith M, Allen D A, Darling W G, 1993. The geothermal activity and geology of the northern sector of the Kenya Rift Valley. Brit Geol Surv Res Rpt, SC/93/1: 1-185.

Ochieng J O, Wilkinson A F, Kagasi J, Kimomo S, 1988. Geology of the Loiyangalani area. Rpt Mines Geol Dept Kenya, 107: 1-53.

Richard J J, Neumann van Padang M, 1957. Africa and the Red Sea. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI 4: 1-118.

Smith M, 1991. (pers. comm.).

Williams L A J, Macdonald R, Chapman G R, 1984. Late Quaternary caldera volcanoes of the Kenya Rift Valley. J. Geophys. Res, 89: 8553-8570.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 10 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Teleki)

1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1920 ± 3 years ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

South flank (Andrew's Volcano)

1920 ± 3 years - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at South flank (Andrew's Volcano)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

1917 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Andrew's or Teleki's Volcanoes

1917 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Andrew's or Teleki's Volcanoes

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1917	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1906 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Andrew's or Teleki's Cones

1906 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Andrew's or Teleki's Cones

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds

1897 May (in or before) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Teleki) and Likaiu

1897 May (in or before) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki) and Likaiu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Flames
- - - -	- - - -	Evacuations
1897 May (in or before)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1895 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Teleki's Cone)

1895 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
1895	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1888 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Teleki's Cone)

1888 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	1888	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1871 ± 3 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank (Teleki's Cone)

1871 ± 3 years - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
1871 ± 3 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1090 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank

1090 ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	1090 ± 50 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1050 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank

1050 ± 150 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	1050 ± 150 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1030 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption

North flank

1030 ± 150 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
	1030 ± 150 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

7710 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

North (Abili Agituk) and south flanks

7710 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North (Abili Agituk) and south flanks

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for The Barrier.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for The Barrier.

Photo Gallery

The pristine Naboiyoton tuff cone rises above Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. The tuff cone, seen here from the north, is a satellitic cone on the north flank of The Barrier volcano. It rises 180 m above the lake, and was formed by explosive eruptions produced when magma rising up along the East African Rift encountered the waters of Lake Turkana. The age of the tuff cone is not known, but its lower slopes lack erosional terraces created during higher stands of the lake. The lava flow at the top was erupted from The Barrier volcano.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1977.

Naboiyoton tuff cone is seen here across Lake Turkana from the NE with The Barrier shield volcano in the background. The steep slopes and wide crater of the tuff cone produce a flat-topped profile, which is typical of tuff cones. This results from powerful phreatomagmatic eruptions produced by the interaction of magma and water. The Barrier volcano draws its name from its prominent topographic position astride the East African Rift between Lake Turkana and the Sukota Trough to the south.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

The Barrier volcano separates Lake Turkana from the Suguta Trough to the south, the site of a former lake. The volcano is comprised of four overlapping shield volcanoes. This view looks down the north flank of the volcano with Lake Turkana at the upper right. Holocene fissure-related scoria cones and lava flows, including the historically active Teleki's and Andrew's cones (lower center), dot the volcano's southern and northern flanks. Historical eruptions have produced explosive activity and lava flows during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.

A northward-looking aerial view shows the summit caldera of Kakorinya volcano of The Barrier volcanic complex with Lake Turkana in the distance. The 3.8-km-wide summit caldera was formed about 92,000 years ago, and post-caldera lava domes and flows fill much of the caldera floor. Fresh-looking lava flows and tuff cones occur along the shores of Lake Turkana. Teleki's Cone on the northern flank and Andrew's Cone (lower left foreground) on the southern flank have been the source of historical lava flows.

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for The Barrier in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of The Barrier. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of The Barrier. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of The Barrier

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).