What was erupting in the year...?
There were 65 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1979 from 60 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 (16 August 2024). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulusan | Philippines | 1979 Dec 27 | 1980 Sep 28 | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1979 Nov 16 | 1979 Nov 17 | 0 |
| Sierra Negra | Ecuador | 1979 Nov 13 | 1980 Jan 14 (in or after) | 3 |
| Ontakesan | Japan | 1979 Oct 28 | 1980 Apr 25 | 2 |
| Llaima | Chile | 1979 Oct 15 | 1979 Nov 28 | 2 |
| Macdonald | France | 1979 Sep 30 | 1979 Sep 30 | 0 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1979 Sep 18 | Unknown | 2 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 1979 Sep 8 | 1980 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1 |
| Krakatau | Indonesia | 1979 Jul 15 ± 5 days | 1979 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | 2 |
| Peuet Sague | Indonesia | 1979 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 2 |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 1979 Jul 2 | 1979 Sep 12 | 2 |
| East Epi | Vanuatu | 1979 Jul 2 ± 5 years ± 182 days | Unknown | 0 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1979 Jun 30 | 1979 Jul 15 | 1 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1979 Jun 6 | 1979 Sep 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2 |
| Asosan | Japan | 1979 Jun 5 ± 4 days | 1980 Mar 8 | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1979 May 31 | 1979 May 31 | 1 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1979 May 28 | 1979 Jul 14 | 1 |
| Curacoa | Tonga | 1979 May 14 | Unknown | 1 |
| Lateiki | Tonga | 1979 May 10 (in or before) | 1979 Jul 21 (in or after) | 2 |
| Chirinkotan | Russia | 1979 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1980 Oct 10 | 2 |
| Carran-Los Venados | Chile | 1979 Apr 14 | 1979 May 20 | 2 |
| Soufriere St. Vincent | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1979 Apr 13 | 1979 Oct 26 ± 5 days | 3 |
| Lautaro | Chile | 1979 Mar 8 (in or before) | Unknown | 2 |
| Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1979 Feb 20 | 1979 Feb 20 | 1 |
| Monowai | New Zealand | 1979 Feb 16 (?) ± 15 days | 1979 Apr 19 (?) | 1 |
| Shishaldin | United States | 1979 Feb 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | 2 |
| Kirishimayama | Japan | 1979 Feb 16 ± 60 days | Unknown | 1 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1979 Feb 11 | Unknown | 3 |
| Cerro Azul | Ecuador | 1979 Jan 29 | 1979 Mar 4 (in or after) | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1979 Jan 26 ± 5 days | 1979 Feb 18 (?) | 2 |
| Karkar | Papua New Guinea | 1979 Jan 12 (?) | 1979 Aug 9 | 2 |
| Shikotsu | Japan | 1978 Dec 12 | 1979 May 11 | 1 |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 1978 Nov 22 | 1979 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 1978 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1979 Dec 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1977 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1982 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 1 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 1977 Sep 11 | 1979 Aug 8 | 2 |
| Toya | Japan | 1977 Aug 7 | 1982 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 3 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1977 Aug 2 | 1980 Mar 12 | 3 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1977 Jul 16 | 1979 Jan 17 | 2 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 1976 Dec 18 | 1982 Jan 29 | 3 |
| Axial Seamount | Undersea Features | 1976 Jan 1 ± 6 years | 1982 (in or before) | 0 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 1975 Nov 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 1980 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 2 |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 1975 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1979 Sep 11 | 2 |
| Galeras | Colombia | 1974 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1983 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 1 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | 3 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 2 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 2 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (in or after) ± 182 days | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 1971 Sep 19 | 1979 Mar 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 1970 May 11 | 1982 Oct 11 | 3 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 0 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 1965 Oct 10 (?) | 1985 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | 3 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1956 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1984 May 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2024 Aug 16 (continuing) | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.2.3; 20 Sep 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2024.5.2
