What was erupting in the year...?
There were 58 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1983 from 55 different volcanoes; 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 1983 Dec 26 ± 5 days | 1984 Feb 12 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tengger Caldera | Indonesia | 1983 Dec 21 | 1983 Dec 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Teahitia | France | 1983 Dec 18 | 1984 Jul 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1983 Dec 4 | 1984 Feb 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1983 Nov 11 | 1983 Dec 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 1983 Nov 6 | 1984 Mar 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Macdonald | France | 1983 Oct 27 | 1984 Jan 3 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 1983 Oct 14 | 1983 Oct 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Miyakejima | Japan | 1983 Oct 3 | 1983 Oct 4 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Tangkuban Parahu | Indonesia | 1983 Sep 14 | Unknown | 1 | |
| Iliwerung | Indonesia | 1983 Aug 17 | 1983 Aug 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Gamalama | Indonesia | 1983 Aug 9 | 1983 Aug 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Kusatsu-Shiranesan | Japan | 1983 Jul 26 | 1983 Dec 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Colo | Indonesia | 1983 Jul 18 | 1983 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Asosan | Japan | 1983 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1983 Oct 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Teahitia | France | 1983 Jul 12 | 1983 Jul 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1983 Jul 11 | 1983 Jul 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Okmok | United States | 1983 Jul 8 | 1983 Jul 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1983 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 2 | |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 1983 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 1 | |
| Bulusan | Philippines | 1983 Jun 25 | 1983 Jun 29 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Veniaminof | United States | 1983 Jun 2 | 1984 Apr 17 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Grimsvotn | Iceland | 1983 May 28 | 1983 Jun 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | 1988 Dec 31 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Iliboleng | Indonesia | 1983 May 11 | 1984 Apr 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Niigata-Yakeyama | Japan | 1983 Apr 14 (?) | 1983 Apr 15 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Asamayama | Japan | 1983 Apr 8 | 1983 Apr 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Concepcion | Nicaragua | 1983 Mar 16 | 1983 Mar 25 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Macdonald | France | 1983 Mar 14 | 1983 May 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 1983 Feb 6 | 1983 Feb 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1983 Jan 1 | 1993 Sep 24 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1982 Oct 7 | 1983 Jun 27 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Akutan | United States | 1982 Oct 5 ± 4 days | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Galunggung | Indonesia | 1982 Apr 5 | 1983 Jan 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1981 Jun 12 | 1983 May 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Pagan | United States | 1981 May 15 | 1985 May 1 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| St. Helens | United States | 1980 Mar 27 | 1986 Oct 28 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 5 |
| Etna | Italy | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Galeras | Colombia | 1974 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1983 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (on or after) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| 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 |
| 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
