Score:
9.5/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS1
World Geography
15 marks
“The 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption highlights the geological dynamism of the East African Rift System.” Explain.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Explain how the 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption highlights the geological dynamism of the East African Rift System.
What you wrote:
The 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic Eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS). The volcanic is erupted after 10000-12000 years, in the Afar region of Ethiopia within the Danakil depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
The region is known as Afar Triangle is the most tectonically active rift system where Somali, Nubian and Arabian plates are diverging.
The 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic Eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS). The volcanic is erupted after 10000-12000 years, in the Afar region of Ethiopia within the Danakil depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
The region is known as Afar Triangle is the most tectonically active rift system where Somali, Nubian and Arabian plates are diverging.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could add a brief definition of geological dynamism (continuous crustal movements, magma activity, and tectonic processes) to establish the analytical framework for the answer.
What you wrote:
Geological Dynamism of East African Rift System!
(A) What is EARS?
(i) It is one of the most extensive rifts on Earth's surface that runs along part of East Africa.
(ii) It was formed about 40 million years ago when tectonic plates split & gave rise to the rift.
(B) Processes Involved?
(i) The rifting process thins the crust, allowing magma from the mantle plume beneath Afar to rise easily.
[DRAWING: A cross-section of a rift valley. At the top, a label reads "Tectonic Plate diversion" with arrows pointing outwards. The valley floor has labels "Erosion" with an arrow pointing down, and "Sediments" filling the valley. There are two "Faults" on either side of the valley. Below the "Crust", an upward-pointing arrow indicates rising magma from the "mantle" and "lithosphere" which are situated above the "Asthenosphere". Two arrows indicate the outward movement of plates on either side, labelled "NB" and "SB".]
(ii) The Afar triple junction, separates or diverges the plates which results into the frequent volcanic & seismic activities.
(iii) The region is located over the Danakil depression, which is a result of a massive plume of superheated rocks.
[MAP: A map showing the divergence of three tectonic plates. Arrows indicate the direction of plate movement. The "Nubian Plate" is moving west, the "Arabian Plate" is moving northeast, and the "Somali Plate" is moving southeast. The area where they meet is labelled "Afar triangle". "Hayli Gubbi" is marked within this triangle, near the boundary of the Somali and Nubian plates. Fig. Plate Divergence.]
(iv) The recent Hayli Gubbi eruption highlights the fact that being dormant for 12000 years and suddenly erupted explosively, is direct evidence of recent significant tectonic event.
(v) The rift also caused the formation of Great lakes. Eg lake Malawi, Tanganyika lake, lake Albert.
Geological Dynamism of East African Rift System!
(A) What is EARS?
(i) It is one of the most extensive rifts on Earth's surface that runs along part of East Africa.
(ii) It was formed about 40 million years ago when tectonic plates split & gave rise to the rift.
(B) Processes Involved?
(i) The rifting process thins the crust, allowing magma from the mantle plume beneath Afar to rise easily.
[DRAWING: A cross-section of a rift valley. At the top, a label reads "Tectonic Plate diversion" with arrows pointing outwards. The valley floor has labels "Erosion" with an arrow pointing down, and "Sediments" filling the valley. There are two "Faults" on either side of the valley. Below the "Crust", an upward-pointing arrow indicates rising magma from the "mantle" and "lithosphere" which are situated above the "Asthenosphere". Two arrows indicate the outward movement of plates on either side, labelled "NB" and "SB".]
(ii) The Afar triple junction, separates or diverges the plates which results into the frequent volcanic & seismic activities.
(iii) The region is located over the Danakil depression, which is a result of a massive plume of superheated rocks.
[MAP: A map showing the divergence of three tectonic plates. Arrows indicate the direction of plate movement. The "Nubian Plate" is moving west, the "Arabian Plate" is moving northeast, and the "Somali Plate" is moving southeast. The area where they meet is labelled "Afar triangle". "Hayli Gubbi" is marked within this triangle, near the boundary of the Somali and Nubian plates. Fig. Plate Divergence.]
(iv) The recent Hayli Gubbi eruption highlights the fact that being dormant for 12000 years and suddenly erupted explosively, is direct evidence of recent significant tectonic event.
(v) The rift also caused the formation of Great lakes. Eg lake Malawi, Tanganyika lake, lake Albert.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can explain how Hayli Gubbi eruption demonstrates active rifting processes (e.g., "The eruption confirms ongoing crustal thinning allowing deep magma ascent, typical of active continental rifting")
- Can mention the East African Dome uplift mechanism that drives the rifting process and creates volcanic activity
- Can add specific EARS statistics (e.g., 6,000 km length from Red Sea to Mozambique, 50-60 km width) to show scale of geological dynamism
What you wrote:
Evidence of Recent Event:
[DRAWING: A mind map centered around "Hayli Gubbi Volcanic Eruption". Five branches radiate from the center. Clockwise from the top right: "Dormant volcano Erupted after 12000 years". "Huge amount of ash, SO2, Glass Shards exploded". "45,000 ft Ash plume (Crossed Red Sea, reached India)". "Sub-plinian eruption style". "Fissure vent". "Parent Range? Erta Ale Range".]
Evidence of Recent Event:
[DRAWING: A mind map centered around "Hayli Gubbi Volcanic Eruption". Five branches radiate from the center. Clockwise from the top right: "Dormant volcano Erupted after 12000 years". "Huge amount of ash, SO2, Glass Shards exploded". "45,000 ft Ash plume (Crossed Red Sea, reached India)". "Sub-plinian eruption style". "Fissure vent". "Parent Range? Erta Ale Range".]
Suggestions to improve:
- Can connect Hayli Gubbi to other recent EARS volcanic activities (e.g., "Similar to recent activity at Erta Ale volcano and Dabbahu fissure eruptions, showing sustained magmatic processes")
- Can mention ongoing GPS measurements showing 6-7mm/year spreading rates in Afar, confirming active rifting
- Can discuss implications for future continental breakup (e.g., "Eruption indicates accelerating process that may eventually separate Horn of Africa from mainland")
What you wrote:
The recent volcanic eruption in Ethiopia demonstrates the dynamism of the East African Rift system, which is becoming a cause of frequent volcanic & seismic events. Highlights the divergence of Somali plate from Nubian plate, signalling towards future destructive activities. The event raised the deep concerns over evacuating the people living in any dormant volcano region especially over the rifting system.
The recent volcanic eruption in Ethiopia demonstrates the dynamism of the East African Rift system, which is becoming a cause of frequent volcanic & seismic events. Highlights the divergence of Somali plate from Nubian plate, signalling towards future destructive activities. The event raised the deep concerns over evacuating the people living in any dormant volcano region especially over the rifting system.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen by linking to global geological significance (e.g., "This eruption provides insights into continental breakup processes similar to early Atlantic Ocean formation, making EARS a natural laboratory for understanding plate tectonics").
Your answer demonstrates good structural organization and includes valuable diagrams that enhance understanding. However, the core demand of explaining how this specific eruption "highlights" EARS dynamism needs stronger analytical connections between the volcanic event and broader geological processes.
Demand of the Question
- Explain how the 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption highlights the geological dynamism of the East African Rift System.
What you wrote:
The 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic Eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS). The volcanic is erupted after 10000-12000 years, in the Afar region of Ethiopia within the Danakil depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
The region is known as Afar Triangle is the most tectonically active rift system where Somali, Nubian and Arabian plates are diverging.
The 2025 Hayli Gubbi volcanic Eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS). The volcanic is erupted after 10000-12000 years, in the Afar region of Ethiopia within the Danakil depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
The region is known as Afar Triangle is the most tectonically active rift system where Somali, Nubian and Arabian plates are diverging.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could add a brief definition of geological dynamism (continuous crustal movements, magma activity, and tectonic processes) to establish the analytical framework for the answer.
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