The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that eruptive activity at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued during 11-18 November. Crater incandescence was observed nightly in webcam images. A period of continuous ash emissions during 0107-0200 on 16 November produced ash plumes that rose as high as 1.5 km above the crater rim. An explosion was recorded at 1127 and produced ash emissions that rose 300 m above the crater rim and entered weather clouds. Ash emissions continued, rising as high as 1.1 km above the cater rim, and ceased at 1344. An eruptive event at 1542 on 16 November generated an ash plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim and drifted W. An explosion at 1619 generated an ash plume that rose 1.5 km above the crater rim and drifted W. No emissions were described from and explosion at 1920. Ashfall was occasionally observed within a 1.5-km-radius according to the Suwanosejima Branch of the Toshima Village Office (3.5 km SSW). The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale) and the public was warned to stay at least 1.5 km away from the crater.

Geological Summary. The 8-km-long island of Suwanosejima in the northern Ryukyu Islands consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with two active summit craters. The summit is truncated by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the E flank that was formed by edifice collapse. One of Japan's most frequently active volcanoes, it was in a state of intermittent Strombolian activity from Otake, the NE summit crater, between 1949 and 1996, after which periods of inactivity lengthened. The largest recorded eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits covered residential areas, and the SW crater produced two lava flows that reached the western coast. At the end of the eruption the summit of Otake collapsed, forming a large debris avalanche and creating an open collapse scarp extending to the eastern coast. The island remained uninhabited for about 70 years after the 1813-1814 eruption. Lava flows reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884. Only about 50 people live on the island.

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)