Logo link to homepage

What was erupting in the year...?

There were 59 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1998 from 56 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 (2 March 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
Ibu Indonesia 1998 Dec 18 1999 Sep 16 (in or after) ± 15 days 2
Grimsvotn Iceland 1998 Dec 18 1998 Dec 28 3
Terceira Portugal 1998 Nov 25 (?) 2000 Mar 16 (?) ± 15 days 0
Planchon-Peteroa Chile 1998 Nov 18 1998 Nov 21 1
Llaima Chile 1998 Nov 10 ± 3 days Unknown 2
Akan Japan 1998 Nov 9 1998 Nov 9 1
Shishaldin United States 1998 Nov 4 1998 Nov 4 1
Kerinci Indonesia 1998 Nov 3 Unknown 2
Hokkaido-Komagatake Japan 1998 Oct 25 1998 Oct 25 2
Nyamulagira DR Congo 1998 Oct 17 1998 Oct 25 (in or after) 2
Cerro Azul Ecuador 1998 Sep 15 1998 Oct 21 1
Masaya Nicaragua 1998 Sep 14 1998 Sep 14 1
Whakaari/White Island New Zealand 1998 Aug 22 1999 Aug 16 ± 15 days 2
Chiginagak United States 1998 Aug 13 1998 Aug 13 (?) 1
Guagua Pichincha Ecuador 1998 Aug 7 2001 May 25 3
Klyuchevskoy Russia 1998 Jul 23 1998 Sep 2 (?) 2
Lopevi Vanuatu 1998 Jul 16 ± 15 days 2000 Apr 25 (?) 3
Karangetang Indonesia 1998 Jul 5 ± 4 days Unknown 1
Kerinci Indonesia 1998 Jul 4 1998 Jul 4 2
Batur Indonesia 1998 Jul 4 ± 3 days Unknown 1
Bezymianny Russia 1998 Jun 20 (?) 1998 Jun 22 (?) 0
Sheveluch Russia 1998 May 30 1998 Sep 3 3
Atka Volcanic Complex United States 1998 May 8 ± 1 days 1998 Jul 8 (?) 3
Kikai Japan 1998 Apr 25 1999 Aug 16 ± 15 days 2
Peuet Sague Indonesia 1998 Apr 19 1998 Apr 26 (?) 1
Llaima Chile 1998 Apr 3 1998 Apr 23 (?) 2
Niigata-Yakeyama Japan 1998 Mar 30 Unknown 1
Whakaari/White Island New Zealand 1998 Mar 28 1998 Mar 29 1
Piton de la Fournaise France 1998 Mar 9 1998 Sep 21 1
Villarrica Chile 1998 Feb 24 ± 4 days 2002 Jun 16 (?) ± 15 days 1
Rincon de la Vieja Costa Rica 1998 Feb 15 1998 Sep 16 ± 15 days 2
Axial Seamount Undersea Features 1998 Jan 25 1998 Feb 5 (?) 0
Monowai New Zealand 1997 Dec 15 1998 Feb 4 (?) 0
Colima Mexico 1997 Nov 22 2011 Jun 21 3
Sangeang Api Indonesia 1997 Jul 2 ± 182 days 1999 Jul 2 ± 182 days 2
Ambrym Vanuatu 1996 Jun 16 (in or before) ± 15 days 2005 Aug 16 (in or after) ± 15 days 1
Popocatepetl Mexico 1996 Mar 5 2003 Nov 22 (?) 3
Karymsky Russia 1996 Jan 2 2000 Dec 20 (?) 3
Rabaul Papua New Guinea 1995 Nov 28 2001 Sep 5 ± 4 days 2
Soufriere Hills United Kingdom 1995 Jul 18 2003 Oct 8 3
Saunders United Kingdom 1995 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days 1998 Feb 16 (in or after) ± 15 days 0
Ol Doinyo Lengai Tanzania 1994 Sep 18 2006 Jul 16 (?) ± 15 days 1
Etna Italy 1994 Jun 17 2001 Aug 9 3
Merapi Indonesia 1992 Jan 20 2002 Oct 19 (?) 2
Sabancaya Peru 1990 May 28 1998 Sep 16 (?) ± 15 days 3
Pacaya Guatemala 1990 Jan 4 (?) 2000 Mar 1 3
Kilauea United States 1983 Jan 3 2018 Sep 5 3
Manam Papua New Guinea 1974 Mar 4 (?) 1999 Nov 9 (?) 3
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 Mar 1 (continuing) 2
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 Mar 1 (continuing) 0
Aira Japan 1955 Oct 13 2016 Aug 22 3
Sangay Ecuador 1934 Aug 8 2011 Mar 2 3
Stromboli Italy 1934 Feb 2 2024 Mar 1 (continuing) 2
Dukono Indonesia 1933 Aug 13 2024 Mar 1 (continuing) 3
Santa Maria Guatemala 1922 Jun 22 2024 Mar 1 (continuing) 3
Yasur Vanuatu 1270 ± 110 years 2024 Mar 1 (continuing) 3

List of Questions

Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.1.6; 2 Mar 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2023.5.1