Satellites detect methane outburst driven by magma-sediment interactions

Magmatic intrusions into sedimentary rocks can release carbon-based greenhouse gases, dominantly methane, and have been linked to rapid changes in past climate. However, we lack appropriate modern analogues, as most volcanic systems emit very little methane. Here, we report the first confirmed satellite detection of methane emissions from a volcanic system, likely resulting from interactions between magma and sedimentary rocks. In early 2025, Fentale Volcano (Ethiopia) released >38.2 ± 3.9 kilo tonnes of methane, of which 90% was emitted within 31 days. The peak emission rate of 157 ± 41 tonnes per hour is comparable to major industrial blowouts and ~4 orders of magnitude higher than the methane emission rates of other volcanic systems. The emissions followed the intrusion of ~1 km ³ of magma into a dyke which did not erupt. Subsequent emissions of methane and carbon dioxide coincided with localised ground subsidence and thermal anomalies within Fentale’s caldera. We infer that the intrusion disrupted an impermeable cap beneath which methane, derived from hydrocarbon-rich sediments, was trapped. This single outburst is small compared to annual emissions from natural and anthropogenic sources, but demonstrates that some volcanoes can release methane episodically, providing insight into the mechanism of greenhouse gas release in magmatic-sedimentary systems