Global Volcanism Program | Farallon de Pájaros

Most Recent Bulletin Report: June 1992 (BGVN 17:06) Cite this Report

Vigorous fuming

When observed from an airplane on 13 May, the volcano continued to fume vigorously, but no active lava was seen.

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi, M. Sako, and F. Trusdell, HVO.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

09/1981 (SEAN 06:09) Normal fuming and discolored water

10/1990 (BGVN 15:10) Vigorous fuming

06/1992 (BGVN 17:06) Vigorous fuming

Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

September 1981 (SEAN 06:09) Cite this Report

Normal fuming and discolored water

"A 16 July USN flight also covered the Quaternary volcanoes of the Marianas. Fuming and discolored water were observed at Farallon de Pajaros but were not anomalous conditions."

Information Contacts: N. Banks, HVO.

October 1990 (BGVN 15:10) Cite this Report

Vigorous fuming

"Photographs taken by Civil Defense personnel in early August 1990 from a fixed-wing airplane showed vigorous fuming."

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi and M. Sako, HVO.

June 1992 (BGVN 17:06) Cite this Report

Vigorous fuming

When observed from an airplane on 13 May, the volcano continued to fume vigorously, but no active lava was seen.

Information Contacts: R. Moore, USGS; R. Koyanagi, M. Sako, and F. Trusdell, HVO.

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

Uracas | Pajaros | Uraccas | Guy Rock

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Makhahnas

Submarine crater

-640 m

20° 28' 0" N

144° 51' 0" E

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

284140

1967 CE

337 m / 1106 ft

20.546°N
144.893°E

Volcano Types

Stratovolcano
Caldera

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Crustal thickness unknown

Population

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

0
0
0
0

Geological Summary

The small 2-km-wide island of Farallon de Pajaros (also known as Uracas) is the northernmost and most active volcano of the Mariana Islands. Its relatively frequent historical eruptions dating back to the mid-19th century have caused the andesitic volcano to be referred to as the "Lighthouse of the western Pacific." The symmetrical, sparsely vegetated summit is the central cone within a small caldera cutting an older edifice, remnants of which are seen on the SE and southern sides near the coast. Flank fissures have fed lava flows during historical time that form platforms along the coast. Both summit and flank vents have been active during historical time. Eruptions have also been observed from nearby submarine vents, and Makhahnas seamount, which rises to within 640 m of the sea surface, lies about 10 km to the SW.

References

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

Bloomer S H, Stern R J, Smoot N C, 1989. Physical volcanology of the submarine Mariana and Volcano arcs. Bull Volcanol, 51: 210-224.

Corwin G, 1971. Quaternary volcanics of the Mariana Islands. Unpublished manuscript, 137 p.

Green J, Short N M, 1971. Volcanic Landforms and Surface Features: a Photographic Atlas and Glossary. New York: Springer-Verlag, 519 p.

Kaiserlichen Admiralitat (ed.), 1876. Aus den Reiseberichten S.M.S. "Hertha", Capitain z. See Knorr. Annalen de Hydrographie und Maritimen Meteorologie. Organ des Hydrographischen Bureaus und der Deutschen Seewarte. E.S. Mittler und Sohn, Berlin..

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

Kuno H, 1962. Japan, Taiwan and Marianas. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 11: 1-332.

Office of the Marine Board of New South Wales, 1872. Notice to Mariners: Volcanic Island.. New South Wales Government Gazette, no. 318 (17 Dec 1872).

Rosser W H, 1870. North Pacific Pilot: Part II. The Seaman's Guide to the Islands of the North Pacific. James Imray and Son, Minories and Tower Hill, London..

Eruptive History

There is data available for 17 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1967 Mar 27 - 1967 Apr 10 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

SW of Uracas (Makhahnas seamount)

1967 Mar 27 - 1967 Apr 10

Evidence from Observations: Hydrophonic

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at SW of Uracas (Makhahnas seamount)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	1967 Mar 27	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days - 1953 Apr 15 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Summit, east side

1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days - 1953 Apr 15

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 8 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Bombs
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
1952 Oct 26 ± 5 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1951 Aug 16 ± 15 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1951 Aug 16 ± 15 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Crater	Summit.
1951 Aug	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1947 Jan (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

North side

1947 Jan (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North side

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
1947 Jan (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1943 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Summit, south side

1943 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, south side

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
- - - -	- - - -	Edifice Destroyed	Explosion
1943	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1941 Mar 28 Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1941 Mar 28 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

1939 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

East side ?

1939 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at East side ?

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water. Uncertain
1939	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1936 Apr 15 ± 45 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Immediately south of Uracas

1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Immediately south of Uracas

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Pumice
	1934 Jul 15 ± 45 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1932 Sep 7 - 1932 Oct 7 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Summit, east side ?

1932 Sep 7 - 1932 Oct 7

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side ?

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1932 Sep 7	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1928 Dec 15 ± 5 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1925 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1925 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1925	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1912 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

North side ?

1912 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at North side ?

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water. Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1912	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1900 (?) - 1901 May Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Summit, east side

1900 (?) - 1901 May

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, east side

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	Entered water.
1900 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1876 Jan 1 (?) - 1876 Jan 3 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

Summit, NE side

1876 Jan 1 (?) - 1876 Jan 3 (?)

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Summit, NE side

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1872 Jul 11 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

1872 Jul 11 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1865 ] Discredited Eruption

1864 Jan 7 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode

SW side

1864 Jan 7 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at SW side

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1864 Jan 7	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Photo Gallery

Explosive activity was frequently observed from Farallon de Pajoras volcano in October and November 1952. Lava flows were emplaced on the E and W sides of the summit in February-March 1953. This 1953 photo from the E shows a small plume rising above the summit crater and lighter-gray lava flows in the center that erupted in 1953. The lobe just left of center eventually reached the coast. Explosive activity continued until 15 April. The steep-sided peak on the SE coastline is a remnant of an older caldera.

Photo by U.S. Navy, 1953.

The 2-km-wide island of Farallon de Pajaros is the northernmost and most active volcano of the Mariana Islands. It has been referred to as the "Lighthouse of the western Pacific." The symmetrical, sparsely vegetated cone formed within a caldera, remnants of which form the peak seen here in 1980 in the center along the SE coast. Both summit and flank vents have been active during historical time; flank fissures formed lava flows along the coast.

Photo by Winfrey, 1980 (U.S. Navy).

This 1980 photo from the SE of the small island volcano of Farallón de Pájaros shows unvegetated lava flows that diverted around the vegetated peak to the lower right, which is a remant of a caldera that formed prior to the formation of the present cone.

Photo by Winfrey, 1980 (U.S. Navy).

Ahyi seamount (upper right) is a large submarine volcano that rises to within about 150 m of the sea surface about 18 km SE of the island of Farallon de Pajaros (left-center). At various times since 1979, water discoloration, felt seismicity followed by upwelling of sulfur-bearing water, and a seismically detected submarine eruption have been reported at or near the seamount. Two submarine volcanoes on the flanks of Farallon de Pajaros, Northwest Uracas and Makhahnas, are seen in this NOAA bathymetric image.

Image courtesy of NOAA, 2003 (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/logs/mar02/media/nikko.html).

GVP Map Holdings

The Global Volcanism Program has no maps available for Farallon de Pájaros.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Farallon de Pájaros in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

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.

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.

Sentinel Hub Playground

Sentinel Hub EO Browser

The Sentinel Hub Playground provides a quick look at any Sentinel-2 image in any combination of the bands and enhanced with image effects; Landsat 8, DEM and MODIS are also available. Sentinel Hub is an engine for processing of petabytes of satellite data. It is opening the doors for machine learning and helping hundreds of application developers worldwide. It makes Sentinel, Landsat, and other Earth observation imagery easily accessible for browsing, visualization and analysis. Sentinel Hub is operated by Sinergise

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 Farallon de Pájaros. 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 Farallon de Pájaros. 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 Farallon de Pájaros

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).