Global Volcanism Program | Tatun Volcanic Group

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Tatun Volcanic Group.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Tatun Volcanic Group.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Tatun Volcanic Group.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

281032

648 CE

1,120 m / 3,675 ft

25.178°N
121.553°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Lava dome(s)
Tuff cone
Tuff ring

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Minor
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

5,084,149
5,084,149
6,735,396
9,862,061

Geological Summary

The Tatun (Datun) group consists predominately of a series of andesitic lava domes in the northernmost part of Taiwan. About 20 volcanoes, the southernmost of which is only 15 km N of the capital city of Taipei, are included in the Tatun group, which was constructed along E-W and NE-SW trending ridges. The highest and youngest volcano is the Cising (Chisingshan) lava dome. Several magmatic eruptions took place in the group about 23,000 to 13,000 years ago, and a phreatic eruption associated with collapse of the lava dome, possibly closely following lava effusion, took place about 6000 years ago. Hot springs, fumaroles, and solfataras are found over wide areas along a zone parallel to the SW-NE-trending Chinshan fault and extending to the NE coast of Taiwan, and extensive geothermal exploration has occurred at the Daiton geothermal area.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Belousov A, Belousova M, Chen C-H, Zellmer G H, 2010. Deposits, character and timing of recent eruptions and gravitational collapses in Tatun Volcanic Group, Northern Taiwan: Hazard-related issues. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 191: 205-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.02.001

Chen C, 1978. Petrochemistry and origin of Pleistocene volcanic rocks from northern Taiwan. Bull Volcanol, 41: 513-528.

Chen C H, Lin S B, 2002. Eruptions younger than 20 ka of the Tatun volcano group as viewed from the sediments of the Sungshan Formation in Taipei Basin.. West Pac Earth Sci, 2: 191-204.

Chen S (ed), 1986. Atlas of Geo-Science, Analysis of Landsat Imagery in China. Beijing: Chinese Acad Sci Press, 228 p.

Ho C S, 1988. An introduction to the geology of Taiwan; explanatory text of the geologic map of Taiwan. Taipei: Central Geol Surv, Ministry Economic Affairs, 192 p.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

Katsui Y (ed), 1971. List of the World Active Volcanoes. Volc Soc Japan draft ms, (limited circulation), 160 p.

Konstantinou K I, Lin C H, Liang W T, 2007. Seismicity characteristics of a potentially active Quaternary volcano: the Tatun volcano group, northern Taiwan. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 160: 300-318.

Lan T F, Yang T F, Lee H-F, Chen Y-G, Chen C-H, Song S-R, Tsao S, 2007. Compositions and flux of soils in Liu-Huang-Ku hydrothermal area, northern Taiwan. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 165: 27-45.

Lee H-F, Yang T F, Lan T F, Chen C-H, Song S-R, Tsao S, 2008. Temporal variations of gas compositions of fumaroles in the Tatun volcano group, northern Taiwan. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 178: 624-635.

Zellmer G F, Rubin K H, Miller C A, Shellnut J G, Belousov A, Belousova M, 2015. Resolving discordant U-Th-Ra ages: constraints on petrogenetic processes of recent effusive eruptions at Tatun Volcano Group, northern Taiwan. in Caricchi L, and Blundy J D (eds.), Chemical, Physical and Temporal Evolution of Magmatic Systems, Geologicla Society, London, Special Publications, 422. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP422.3

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0648 (after) ± 11 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Shamao

0648 (after) ± 11 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: Uranium-series

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Shamao

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava dome

4095 BCE ± 35 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Cisingshan

4095 BCE ± 35 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Cisingshan

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Avalanche
4100 BCE ± 40 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Datun Volcano Group | Ta-tung

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Hunglu
Honglu

Tuff cone

644 m

25° 11' 38.00" N

121° 30' 47.00" E

Siaoyoukeng

Tuff ring

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Bailaka

Dome

886 m

25° 11' 18.00" N

121° 31' 4.00" E

Caigon

Dome

891 m

25° 11' 23.00" N

121° 31' 21.00" E

Cigu
Qigu

Dome

885 m

25° 10' 18.00" N

121° 33' 57.00" E

Cising
Chihsingshan
Qixing

Dome

1096 m

25° 10' 16.00" N

121° 33' 12.00" E

Dajian

Dome

815 m

25° 9' 43.00" N

121° 36' 5.00" E

Dajianhou

Dome

862 m

25° 10' 19.00" N

121° 35' 33.00" E

Datun

Dome

1084 m

25° 10' 38.00" N

121° 31' 21.00" E

Datun Nanfeng

Dome

931 m

25° 10' 10.00" N

121° 31' 9.00" E

Datun Xifeng

Dome

950 m

25° 10' 16.00" N

121° 30' 49.00" E

Erpingding

Dome

Huangzuei

Dome

896 m

25° 10' 34.00" N

121° 36' 15.00" E

Kuanyin

Dome

615 m

Laigongken

Dome

654 m

Miantian

Dome

977 m

Nandatun

Dome

977 m

Shamao

Dome

638 m

25° 8' 54.00" N

121° 32' 35.00" E

Shiti Ling

Dome

848 m

25° 9' 41.00" N

121° 35' 16.00" E

Siangtian

Dome

946 m

25° 10' 28.00" N

121° 30' 19.00" E

Siaocao

Dome

578 m

25° 8' 5.00" N

121° 33' 49.00" E

Siaoguanyin
Xiaoguanyin

Dome

1043 m

25° 11' 18.00" N

121° 32' 32.00" E

Tsu Tzi

Dome

1084 m

25° 12' 51.00" N

121° 33' 47.00" E

Zhuzi

Dome

1020 m

25° 11' 25.00" N

121° 31' 58.00" E

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Ba-yan

Thermal

Daiton Geothermal Area

Thermal

Da-pu

Thermal

Da-you-keng

Thermal

Geng-zi-ping

Thermal

Leng-shuei-keng

Thermal

Liou-huang-ku

Thermal

Long-fong-ku

Thermal

Ma-tsao

Thermal

She-huang-ping

Thermal

Siao-you-keng
Xiaoyoukeng

Thermal

Ti-re-ku

Thermal

Photo Gallery

The Tatun (Datun) volcano group contains around 20 lava domes and is seen here NE of Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. The latest eruptions are late Pleistocene and mid-Holocene. Hot springs, fumaroles, and solfataras are found over wide areas.

Photo by Alexander Belousov, 2008 (Institute of Volcanology, Kamchatka, Russia).

A phreatic eruption on the W side of the Cisingshan lava dome accompanied the Cisingshan debris avalanche about 6,000 years ago. Small funnel-shaped craters were the sources of explosive breccias several hundred meters wide and several meters thick that may have occurred only a few years before the collapse.

Photo by Alexander Belousov, 2008 (Institute of Volcanology, Kamchatka, Russia).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 6 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number	Sample Description	Lava Source	Collection Date
NMNH 117182-1	Altered Andesite	--	--
NMNH 117182-2	Hornblende Dacite	--	--
NMNH 117182-3	Plagioclase Andesite	--	--
NMNH 117182-4	Plagioclase Andesite	--	--
NMNH 117182-5	Olivine Andesite	--	--
NMNH 117182-6	Olivine Andesite	--	--

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Tatun Volcanic Group. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Tatun Volcanic Group. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Tatun Volcanic Group

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).