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Mount Aso

Asosan

Caldera · Japan · 1592m

The 24-km-wide Aso caldera formed during four major Pleistocene explosive eruptions. These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows that swept over much of Kyushu. A group of 17 cones was constructed in the central part of the caldera, seen here from the ENE caldera rim. The Nakadake cone is one of Japan's most active volcanoes with recorded eruptions dating back to 553 CE.
The 24-km-wide Aso caldera formed during four major Pleistocene explosive eruptions. These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows that swept over much of Kyushu. A group of 17 cones was constructed in the central part of the caldera, seen here from the ENE caldera rim. The Nakadake cone is one of Japan's most active volcanoes with recorded eruptions dating back to 553 CE. · Photo: Photo by Norm Banks, 1981 (U.S. Geological Survey). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Caldera
Country
Japan
Region
Western Pacific Volcanic Regions / Nankai Volcanic Arc
Elevation
1592m
Coordinates
32.885, 131.085
Last eruption
2021
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Caldera
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

The 24-km-wide Asosan caldera was formed during four major explosive eruptions from 300,000 to 90,000 years ago. These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows that covered much of Kyushu. The last of these, the Aso-4 eruption, produced more than 600 km3 of airfall tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits. A group of 17 central cones was constructed in the middle of the caldera, one of which, Nakadake, is one of Japan's most active volcanoes. It was the location of Japan's first documented historical eruption in 553 CE. The Nakadake complex has remained active throughout the Holocene. Several other cones have been active during the Holocene, including the Kometsuka scoria cone as recently as about 210 CE. Historical eruptions have largely consisted of basaltic to basaltic andesite ash emission with periodic strombolian and phreatomagmatic activity. The summit crater of Nakadake is accessible by toll road and cable car, and is one of Kyushu's most popular tourist destinations.

From Wikipedia

Mount Aso or Aso Volcano is the second largest active volcano in Japan after Mount Fuji, and among the largest in the world. Common use relates often only to the somma volcano in the centre of Aso Caldera. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. Its tallest peak, Takadake, is 1,592 meters (5,223 ft) above sea level. Mount Aso is in a fairly large caldera with a circumference of around 120 km (75 mi), although sources vary on the exact distance. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
8050 BCE~7714 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 13686 BCE~3350 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?3014 BCE~2679 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 02679 BCE~2343 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 12343 BCE~2007 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 32007 BCE~1672 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1672 BCE~1336 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 31336 BCE~1000 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?665 BCE~329 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?343~678 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 3678~1014 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 31014~1350 · 20 eruptions · max VEI 21350~1685 · 41 eruptions · max VEI 21685~2021 · 108 eruptions · max VEI 38050 BCE5700 BCE3014 BCE665 BCE1685

Detailed timeline

  1. 2021VEI 2Observed
    2021-10-14 – 2021-10-20
  2. 2019VEI 2Observed
    2019-04-16 – 2020-06-16
  3. 2016VEI 3Observed
    2016-10-07 – 2016-11-12
    Nakadake Crater
  4. 2014VEI 2Observed
    2014-08-30 – 2016-05-01
    Naka-dake
  5. 2014VEI 1Observed
    2014-01-13 – 2014-02-19
    Naka-dake
  6. 2011VEI 1Observed
    2011-05-15 – 2011-06-09
    Naka-dake
  7. 2008VEI 1Observed
    2008-02-17 – 2008-02-17
    Naka-dake
  8. 2005VEI 1Observed
    2005-04-14 – 2005-08-16
    Naka-dake
  9. 2004VEI 1Observed
    2004-01-14 – 2004-01-14
    Naka-dake
  10. 2003VEI 1Observed
    2003-07-10 – 2003-07-14
    Naka-dake
  11. 1994VEI 2Observed
    1994-05-02 – 1995-11-16
    Naka-dake
  12. 1992VEI 2Observed
    1992-04-23 – 1993-06-10
    Naka-dake
  13. 1989VEI 2Observed
    1989-04-05 – 1991-02-09
    Naka-dake
  14. 1988VEI 1Observed
    1988-05-26 – 1989-01-16
    Naka-dake
  15. 1984VEI 1Observed
    1984-04-13 – 1985-06-24
    Naka-dake
  16. 1983VEI 1Observed
    1983-07-16 – 1983-10-16
    Naka-dake
  17. 1981VEI 1Observed
    1981-06-15 – 1981-06-15
    Naka-dake
  18. 1980VEI 1Observed
    1980-09-24 – 1980-09-24
    Naka-dake
  19. 1979VEI 2Observed
    1979-06-05 – 1980-03-08
    Naka-dake
  20. 1977VEI 2Observed
    1977-04-11 – 1978-08-16
    Naka-dake
  21. 1975VEI 1Observed
    1975-10-16 – 1976-01-13
    Naka-dake
  22. 1973VEI 2Observed
    1973-01-16 – 1975-06-16
    Naka-dake
  23. 1970VEI 2Observed
    1970-04-21 – 1972-09-16
    Naka-dake
  24. 1967VEI 1Observed
    1967-05-16 – 1969-12-16
    Naka-dake
  25. 1964VEI 1Observed
    1964-05-14 – 1964-05-14
    Naka-dake
  26. 1964VEI 2Observed
    1964-10-16 – 1966-12-16
    Naka-dake
  27. 1963VEI 1Observed
    1963-04-21 – 1963-07-16
    Naka-dake
  28. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-11-10 – 1964-01-16
    Naka-dake
  29. 1960VEI 2Observed
    1960-01-16 – 1960-04-09
    Naka-dake
  30. 1960VEI 1Observed
    1960-09-16 – 1962-11-16
    Naka-dake
  31. 1959VEI 1Observed
    1959-07-16 – 1959-10-02
    Naka-dake
  32. 1957VEI 1Observed
    1957-04-12 – 1957-04-12
    Naka-dake
  33. 1957VEI 2Observed
    1957-10-16 – 1958-12-16
    Naka-dake
  34. 1956VEI 2Observed
    1956-08-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  35. 1956VEI 1Observed
    1956-12-21 – 1956-12-21
    Naka-dake
  36. 1956VEI 2Observed
    1956-01-03 – 1956-01-13
    Naka-dake
  37. 1955VEI 1Observed
    1955-07-25 – 1955-07-28
    Naka-dake
  38. 1954VEI 1Observed
    1954-05-26 – 1954-05-26
    Naka-dake
  39. 1953VEI 2Observed
    1953-04-27 – 1953-07-30
    Naka-dake
  40. 1953VEI 1Observed
    1953-12-16 – 1953-12-16
    Naka-dake
  41. 1952VEI ?Geological estimate
    1952-07-02 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  42. 1951VEI 2Observed
    1951-05-04 – 1951-08-16
    Naka-dake
  43. 1950VEI 2Observed
    1950-11-16 – 1951-01-16
    Naka-dake
  44. 1949VEI 2Observed
    1949-12-26 – 1950-04-15
    Naka-dake
  45. 1948VEI 1Observed
    1948-04-09 – 1948-12
    Naka-dake
  46. 1947VEI 2Observed
    1947-05-26 – 1947-09
    Naka-dake
  47. 1946VEI 2Observed
    1946-04-29 – 1946-06-24
    Naka-dake
  48. 1946VEI 2Observed
    1946-12-30 – 1946-12-30
    Naka-dake
  49. 1945VEI 2Observed
    1945-09-16 – 1945-09-19
    Naka-dake
  50. 1943VEI 2Observed
    1943-06-21 – 1943-06-24
    Naka-dake
  51. 1943VEI 2Observed
    1943-12-09 – 1944-02
    Naka-dake
  52. 1942VEI 1Geological estimate
    1942-06-08 – 1942-06-22
    Naka-dake
  53. 1940VEI 2Observed
    1940-04-20 – 1941-08-08
    Naka-dake
  54. 1938VEI 2Observed
    1938 – 1939-08-11
    Naka-dake
  55. 1937VEI 2Observed
    1937-01-13 – 1937-01-13
    Naka-dake
  56. 1937VEI 2Observed
    1937-05-07 – 1937-05-13
    Naka-dake
  57. 1936VEI 2Observed
    1936-02-05 – 1936-02-05
    Naka-dake
  58. 1936VEI 2Observed
    1936-08-08 – 1936-08-14
    Naka-dake
  59. 1935VEI 2Observed
    1935-01-07 – 1935-10-08
    Naka-dake
  60. 1934VEI 2Observed
    1934-07-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  61. 1932VEI 2Observed
    1932-06 – 1933-09-28
    Naka-dake
  62. 1931VEI 1Geological estimate
    1931-10-18 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  63. 1930VEI 2Observed
    1930-09-03 – 1930-09-06
    Naka-dake
  64. 1928VEI 2Observed
    1928-09-06 – 1929-10-23
    Naka-dake
  65. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-09-21 – 1928-01-13
    Naka-dake
  66. 1925VEI 2Observed
    1925-01-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  67. 1923VEI 2Observed
    1923-01 – 1923-09-17
    Naka-dake
  68. 1920VEI 2Observed
    1920 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  69. 1919VEI 2Observed
    1919-04 – 1919-05
    Naka-dake
  70. 1918VEI 2Observed
    1918-01-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  71. 1916VEI 2Observed
    1916-04-19 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  72. 1914VEI 2Observed
    1914-01-13 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  73. 1911VEI 2Observed
    1911 – 1912
    Naka-dake
  74. 1910VEI 2Observed
    1910-04-03 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  75. 1909VEI 2Observed
    1909-04 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  76. 1908VEI 2Observed
    1908-01-17 – 1908-01-29
    Naka-dake
  77. 1907VEI 2Observed
    1907-12-12 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  78. 1906VEI 3Observed
    1906-06-07 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  79. 1898VEI 2Observed
    1898-08 – 1899-04
    Naka-dake
  80. 1897VEI 2Observed
    1897-02-24 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  81. 1894VEI 2Observed
    1894-03-06 – 1894-08-30
    Naka-dake
  82. 1884VEI 2Observed
    1884-03-21 – 1884-06
    Naka-dake
  83. 1874VEI 2Observed
    1874-02-07 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  84. 1872VEI 3Observed
    1872-12-01 – 1873-06-08
    Naka-dake
  85. 1856VEI 2Observed
    1856-03-18 – 1856-06-13
    Naka-dake
  86. 1854VEI 2Observed
    1854-02-26 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  87. 1838VEI 2Observed
    1838-03-04 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  88. 1837VEI 2Observed
    1837-10-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  89. 1835VEI 2Observed
    1835-05-01 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  90. 1830VEI 2Observed
    1830-02-16 – 1830-03
    Naka-dake
  91. 1830VEI 2Observed
    1830-08-11 – 1832-08
    Naka-dake
  92. 1829VEI 2Observed
    1829-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  93. 1828VEI 2Observed
    1828-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  94. 1827VEI 2Observed
    1827-05 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  95. 1827VEI 2Observed
    1827-11-12 – 1828-01
    Naka-dake
  96. 1826VEI 2Observed
    1826-10-03 – 1826-11-22
    Naka-dake
  97. 1816VEI 2Observed
    1816-06-09 – 1816-07-06
    Naka-dake and west flank (Yunotani)
  98. 1815VEI 2Observed
    1815-02-10 – 1815-10
    Naka-dake
  99. 1814VEI 2Observed
    1814 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  100. 1806VEI 2Observed
    1806-06 – 1806-10
    Naka-dake
  101. 1804VEI 2Observed
    1804-09-05 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  102. 1781VEI 1Observed
    1781 – 1788
    Naka-dake
  103. 1772VEI 2Observed
    1772 – 1780
    Naka-dake
  104. 1765VEI 3Observed
    1765-01 – 1765-10
    Naka-dake
  105. 1753VEI 2Geological estimate
    1753 – 1754
    Naka-dake
  106. 1709VEI 2Observed
    1709-02-13 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  107. 1708VEI 2Geological estimate
    1708-09-17 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  108. 1691VEI 2Observed
    1691-04 – 1691-08
    Naka-dake
  109. 1683VEI 2Observed
    1683-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  110. 1675VEI 2Observed
    1675-02-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  111. 1671VEI 2Geological estimate
    1671 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  112. 1668VEI 2Observed
    1668-02 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  113. 1668VEI 2Observed
    1668-08 – 1669
    Naka-dake
  114. 1649VEI 2Observed
    1649-07 – 1649-08
    Naka-dake
  115. 1637VEI 2Observed
    1637-09-29 – 1637-10-05
    Naka-dake
  116. 1631VEI 2Observed
    1631-12 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  117. 1620VEI 2Observed
    1620-06-03 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  118. 1613VEI 2Observed
    1613-08-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  119. 1612VEI 2Observed
    1612-08-12 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  120. 1611VEI 2Observed
    1611 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  121. 1598VEI 2Observed
    1598-12 – 1599
    Naka-dake
  122. 1592VEI 2Observed
    1592 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  123. 1587VEI 2Observed
    1587 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  124. 1584VEI 2Observed
    1584-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  125. 1583VEI 2Observed
    1583-12-14 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  126. 1582VEI 2Observed
    1582-02-17 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  127. 1576VEI 2Observed
    1576-11-15 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  128. 1574VEI 2Observed
    1574 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  129. 1573VEI 2Observed
    1573 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  130. 1564VEI 2Observed
    1564-12 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  131. 1563VEI 2Geological estimate
    1563-05-03 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  132. 1562VEI 2Observed
    1562-03 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  133. 1558VEI 2Observed
    1558 – 1559
    Naka-dake
  134. 1542VEI 2Observed
    1542-04-29 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  135. 1533VEI 2Observed
    1533-07-17 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  136. 1522VEI 2Observed
    1522-02-15 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  137. 1506VEI 2Observed
    1506-04-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  138. 1505VEI 2Observed
    1505-02 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  139. 1485VEI 2Observed
    1485-01-05 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  140. 1473VEI 2Observed
    1473-05-16 – 1474-04-15
    Naka-dake
  141. 1438VEI 2Observed
    1438-01-09 – 1438-02-18
    Naka-dake
  142. 1434VEI 2Observed
    1434-05-10 – 1434-05-18
    Naka-dake
  143. 1390VEI 2Geological estimate
    1390 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  144. 1388VEI 2Geological estimate
    1388-10-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  145. 1387VEI 2Observed
    1387-06-19 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  146. 1377VEI 2Observed
    1377-05-06 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  147. 1376VEI 2Observed
    1376-06-20 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  148. 1375VEI 2Observed
    1375-12-20 – 1376-01-31
    Naka-dake
  149. 1369VEI 2Geological estimate
    1369 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  150. 1346VEI 2Geological estimate
    1346 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  151. 1343VEI 2Observed
    1343 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  152. 1340VEI 2Observed
    1340-02-03 – 1340-02-25
    Naka-dake
  153. 1335VEI 2Observed
    1335-02-07 – 1335-03-26
    Naka-dake
  154. 1331VEI 2Observed
    1331-04 – 1331-04
    Naka-dake
  155. 1331VEI 2Observed
    1331-12 – 1333-06
    Naka-dake
  156. 1324VEI 2Observed
    1324-09-07 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  157. 1305VEI 2Observed
    1305-05-02 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  158. 1286VEI 2Observed
    1286-08-30 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  159. 1281VEI 2Observed
    1281-07 – 1281-08
    Naka-dake
  160. 1274VEI 2Observed
    1274 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  161. 1273VEI 2Observed
    1273-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  162. 1272VEI 2Observed
    1272-04-16 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  163. 1272VEI 2Observed
    1272-11-29 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  164. 1271VEI 2Observed
    1271-01-05 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  165. 1269VEI 2Observed
    1269-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  166. 1265VEI 2Observed
    1265-12-01 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  167. 1240VEI 2Observed
    1240 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  168. 1239VEI 2Observed
    1239-02-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  169. 1229VEI 2Geological estimate
    1229-12-31 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  170. 986VEI 2Geological estimate
    986-09-02 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  171. 867VEI 2Observed
    867-06-20 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  172. 864VEI 3Observed
    864-11-09 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  173. 796VEI 0Geological estimate
    796-08 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  174. 553VEI 3Geological estimate
    553 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  175. 440 (±75 yrs)VEI 3Geological estimate
    440 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  176. 630 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 630 – Ongoing
  177. 1270 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1270 – Ongoing
  178. 1350 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    BCE 1350 – Ongoing
    Komezuka
  179. 1650 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    BCE 1650 – Ongoing
    Ojo-dake
  180. 1830 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1830 – Ongoing
  181. 2050 BCEVEI 3Geological estimate
    BCE 2050 – Ongoing
    Kishima-dake
  182. 2150 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2150 – Ongoing
  183. 2350 BCE (±75 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 2350 – Ongoing
  184. 2550 BCEVEI 1Geological estimate
    BCE 2550 – Ongoing
    Jigoku explosion crater
  185. 2850 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2850 – Ongoing
    Naka-dake
  186. 3610 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 3610 – Ongoing
  187. 8050 BCEVEI 1Geological estimate
    BCE 8050 – Ongoing
    Jigoku explosion crater

External links

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