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Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) — 17 May-23 May 2017


Nishinoshima

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 May-23 May 2017
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2017. Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 May-23 May 2017. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (17 May-23 May 2017)

Nishinoshima

Japan

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The Japan Coast Guard reported that during an overflight of Nishinoshima during 1300-1345 on 2 May observers noted frequent (every 40-60 seconds) Strombolian explosions at a new pyroclastic cone in the crater. Ash plumes rose 500 m. Two lava flows originating from the N part of the cone traveled 180 m SW and 170 m W, and entered the ocean. The island continued to grow and was estimated to be 2 km E to W and about 1.9 km N to S, with an area of 2.75 square kilometers (it was 2.68 square kilometers on 15 September 2016).

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