Logo link to homepage

Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) — 22 January-28 January 2014


Nishinoshima

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 January-28 January 2014
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2014. Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 22 January-28 January 2014. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (22 January-28 January 2014)

Nishinoshima

Japan

27.247°N, 140.874°E; summit elev. 100 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


A photo and video posted by the Japan Coast Guard showed that on 20 January the Niijima portion of Nishino-shima was larger than the original island; the two islands had merged on 24 December 2013. White and brown plumes rose from Niijima and the water to the SW was discolored.

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.

Source: Japan Coast Guard