What was erupting in the year...?
There were 54 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1972 from 52 different volcanoes; 29 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (19 September 2025). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Eruption Type | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Tongariro | New Zealand | 1972 Nov 22 | 1974 Aug 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Acatenango | Guatemala | 1972 Nov 12 | 1972 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1972 Oct 24 | Unknown | 0 | |
| Paluweh | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 22 | 1973 Jan 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1972 Oct 22 | 1973 Jan 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ritter Island | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Oct 9 | 1972 Oct 9 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karthala | Union of the Comoros | 1972 Sep 8 | 1972 Oct 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kuchinoerabujima | Japan | 1972 Sep 2 | 1972 Sep 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Calbuco | Chile | 1972 Aug 26 | 1972 Aug 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 1972 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1972 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kick 'em Jenny | Grenada | 1972 Jul 5 | 1972 Jul 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Rocard | France | 1972 Jul 4 | 1972 Jul 19 | Submarine | 0 |
| Lautaro | Chile | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 1 | |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (on or after) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Galapagos Rift at 86°W | Ecuador | 1972 Jun 29 ± 1 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| Alaid | Russia | 1972 Jun 18 | 1972 Sep 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Krakatau | Indonesia | 1972 Jun 10 ± 3 days | 1973 Jul 1 ± 30 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1972 Jun 9 (?) | 1973 Jan 16 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Fernandina | Ecuador | 1972 Jun 4 ± 45 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1972 Apr 15 | 1972 Aug 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Tongariro | New Zealand | 1972 Mar 19 | 1972 Jun 6 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 1972 Feb 9 | 1973 Sep 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tengger Caldera | Indonesia | 1972 Jan 26 | 1972 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Batur | Indonesia | 1972 Jan 19 | 1972 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1972 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1976 Apr 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Central Bismarck Sea | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jan 8 | 1972 Jan 12 | Submarine | 0 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Jan 3 (?) | Unknown | 1 | |
| Llaima | Chile | 1971 Dec 1 ± 30 days | 1972 Mar 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1971 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1973 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 1971 Oct 29 | 1972 Feb 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Soufriere St. Vincent | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1971 Oct 4 ± 6 days | 1972 Mar 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Etna | Italy | 1971 Sep 19 | 1979 Mar 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1971 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Dec 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1971 Jan 26 ± 5 days | 1972 Jul 5 ± 4 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Jan Mayen | Norway | 1970 Sep 18 | 1972 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 1970 May 11 | 1982 Oct 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 1970 May 9 | 1972 Aug 7 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Asosan | Japan | 1970 Apr 21 | 1972 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1969 Feb 22 | 1974 Sep 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 1965 Oct 10 (?) | 1985 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1956 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1984 May 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 1927 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1977 Jan 10 | Lava Lake | 1 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.3; 26 Nov 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
