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Nishinoshima

Caldera · Japan · 100m

A submarine explosion from Nishinoshima breaches the surface on 9 October 1973. Steam trails behind ejected hot blocks at the margin of the plume. Submarine eruptions began on 12 April 1973 and the new island was first observed on 11 September. Lava flows began in September and three new islands were formed, which joined together during October-November 1973.
A submarine explosion from Nishinoshima breaches the surface on 9 October 1973. Steam trails behind ejected hot blocks at the margin of the plume. Submarine eruptions began on 12 April 1973 and the new island was first observed on 11 September. Lava flows began in September and three new islands were formed, which joined together during October-November 1973. · Photo: Photo courtesy of Japan Meteorological Agency, 1973. · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Caldera
Country
Japan
Region
Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Ogasawara Volcanic Arc
Elevation
100m
Coordinates
27.247, 140.874
Last eruption
2023
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Caldera
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

The small island of Nishinoshima was enlarged when several new islands coalesced during an eruption in 1973-74. Multiple eruptions that began in 2013 completely covered the previous exposed surface and continued to enlarge the island. The island is the summit of a massive submarine volcano that has prominent peaks to the S, W, and NE. The summit of the southern cone rises to within 214 m of the ocean surface 9 km SSE.

From Wikipedia

Nishinoshima is a volcanic island located around 940 km (584 mi) south-southeast of Tokyo that is part of the Volcano Islands arc. Nishinoshima is located about 130 km to the west of the nearest inhabited Ogasawara islands, Chichijima Island, hence the name; the other Ogasawara island groups are aligned more to the north–south. The nearest of the other Volcano Islands is over 270 km away, but Nishinoshima is on the alignment of the Volcano Islands.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1973~1978 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21978~1983 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 01983~1988 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 01998~2002 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 02012~2017 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 22017~2022 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 219731983199820072017

Detailed timeline

  1. 2022VEI 2Observed
    2022-10-01 – 2023-10-13
    Central cone of 2013 island
  2. 2021VEI 2Observed
    2021-08-14 – 2021-08-15
    Central cone of 2013 island
  3. 2019VEI 1Observed
    2019-12-05 – 2020-08-27
    Central cone of 2013 island
  4. 2018VEI 1Observed
    2018-07-12 – 2018-07-21
    Central cone of 2013 island
  5. 2017VEI 2Observed
    2017-04-18 – 2017-08-17
    Central cone of 2013 island
  6. 2013VEI 2Observed
    2013-11-20 – 2015-11-17
    Vent SSE of existing Nishinoshima
  7. 2001VEI 0Geological estimate
    2001-01-16 – Ongoing
  8. 1986VEI 0Geological estimate
    1986-07-02 – 1990-07-02
  9. 1985VEI 0Geological estimate
    1985-12-02 – 1985-12-02
  10. 1983VEI 0Geological estimate
    1983-07-02 – 1984-07-02
  11. 1982VEI 0Geological estimate
    1982-04-16 – 1982-04-16
  12. 1980VEI 0Geological estimate
    1980-07-07 – 1981-07-02
    South, east, and west sides
  13. 1978VEI 0Geological estimate
    1978-11-16 – 1979-07-02
    6.5 km NW of Nishino-shima
  14. 1975VEI 0Geological estimate
    1975-07-02 – 1977-07-02
  15. 1973VEI 2Observed
    1973-04-12 – 1974-05-05
    Vent SE of existing Nishinoshima

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.