Kenya & Ethiopia Expedition 2016

1. University of Glasgow Kenya & Ethiopia Expedition 2016
@GURiftValley
http://glasgowexsoc.org.uk/
Helen Robinson
h.robinson.2@research.gla.ac.uk
Hilary Mulholland
Neil Burnside

2. East African Rift System
• Western branch
•Albertine Rift, Lake Malawi
Valley
• Eastern branch
•Main Ethiopian Rift, Gregory
Rift
• Developing southern branch
• Afar Triple Junction
•Red Sea Rift, Aden Ridge
Tectonic Plates
• Divergent plate boundary
• Nubia plate
•Somalia plate
• Victoria micro-plate
• Spreading rate 6-7mm/yr
Countries
6,400km Afar Depression – Mozambique,
passing through Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda,
Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi
Where?

3. Where?

4. Where?
Butajiri-Silti Volcanic Field, Ethiopia
• Elevation 2281masl
• Fissure vents, Maars & Pyroclastic cones
• Last erupted during the Pleistocene
• Aseismic to the Main Ethiopian Rift
(MER)
Menengai Caldera, Kenya
• Elevation 2278masl
• Summit caldera
• Last erupted approx 350yrs ago
• Final caldera collapse ~6050yrs ago
• Rift floor shield volcano

5. Why is This Work So Important?
85% of Ethiopians do not have electricity
84% of Kenyans do not have electricity
Avoid reliance on hydrocarbons
Volcanic risk monitoring of Menengai
Water contamination!

6. What Are We Going to Do and Why?
Ethiopia
Butajiri-Silti Volcanic Field:
Geochemistry - Soil gas sampling, CO2
efflux, spring sampling, temperature
surveys
Geophysics - GPR, TEM, GNSS
Mapping – contribute to published map
corrections and collect structural data for
stress analysis
Impact Assessments

7. What Are We Going To Do and Why?
Kenya
Menengai Volcano Summit Caldera:
Geochemistry - CO2 efflux, fumarole
sampling and steaming ground surveys,
Temperature surveys
Sampling of the lake waters:
Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake
Nakuru, Lake Elementeita, Lake
Naivasha, Lake Victoria

9. Benefits?
- Use of geophysical equipment
and field sampling techniques
- Fieldwork experience where the
work is research based
- Knowledge that you have contributed to
changing lives
- Publications and co-authorships
- Cultures and Travel
- Acknowledgement with graduation

10. Collaboration
- Invitation from Addis Ababa University (AAU)
- RiftVolc
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/volcanoes/RiftVolc.html
- BritGeothermal
http://www.britgeothermal.org/
- InVolCan
http://www.involcan.org/

11. What Should You Expect?

12. Itinerary
Leaving first week of June!
• Flying with Emirates via Dubai
to Addis
Approximately 3 weeks in
Ethiopia
• Flying Addis to Nairobi
Approximately 3 weeks in Kenya
• Returning to the UK via Addis
and Dubai

13. Costs
Estimated costs per person for this trip
is £2000
Personal contributions will be ~£600
Remaining monies will come from fund
raising, sponsorship and grants

14. Preparation
Read up on geothermal energy in East Africa and African geology
Geochemistry training will be completed by myself, most of which
needs to be done in the field
Geophysics training will be provided by NERC GEF at Edinburgh
University’s King’s Buildings before we leave
Remote first aid training will also be arranged
Weekly meetings for all team members at the start

15. Extras!
Ethiopia
• Blue Nile Gorge
• Sof Omar Cave
• Sodere Springs
Kenya
• Maasai Mara
• Thompson Fall’s
• The Equator

16. What’s Next?
Fancy it?
- Apply!
- Deadline Friday 16th October at 10am
- Submit to the Teaching Office, Room 620, Level, James Watt
South Building
- Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 19th October
- Teams will be announce no later than the first week of November
- First team meeting will be COMPULSORY for all team members!