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Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) — 26 August-1 September 2020


Nishinoshima

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 August-1 September 2020
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2020. Report on Nishinoshima (Japan) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 August-1 September 2020. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (26 August-1 September 2020)

Nishinoshima

Japan

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Japan Coast Guard reported that during an overflight of Nishinoshima on 19 August scientists observed a white plume comprised of volcanic gases rising 3 km from the crater. No lava effusion was visible, though the inner crater was hot. The entire island was covered with ash.

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