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Esan

Photo of this volcano
  • Japan
  • Lava dome(s)
  • 1874 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 41.805°N
  • 141.166°E

  • 618 m
    2028 ft

  • 285011
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: September 2012 (BGVN 37:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Minor steam plumes in March 2012

E-san is located in S Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectures (figure 1). Recent monthly reports of volcanic activity from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), translated into English, resumed in October 2010. The only recent JMA report on E-san was in March 2012. This is the first BGVN report discussing E-san.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. A map showing a few of the major volcanoes of Japan, with their respective Alert Levels in March 2012. E-san is in the northernmost prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido. Courtesy of JMA.

According to JMA, in March 2012 steam plumes rose to heights of less than 100 m above the crater rim. Aerial visual and infrared observations coducted in cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism, and the Japan Coast Guard on 16 and 23 March, repectively, found no changes.

A small-amplitude and short-duration volcanic tremor occurred on 30 March. After that, the number of small volcanic earthquakes increased until early on 31 March. No steam plumes could be observed on 31 March due to cloud cover; however, JMA reported no change in air vibrations or crustal deformation data. Field surveys on 2 April found no change in either the steam plumes from the crater or crustal deformation (GPS).

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Otemachi, 1-3-4, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/).

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Esan.

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.

09/2012 (BGVN 37:09) Minor steam plumes in March 2012




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


September 2012 (BGVN 37:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Minor steam plumes in March 2012

E-san is located in S Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectures (figure 1). Recent monthly reports of volcanic activity from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), translated into English, resumed in October 2010. The only recent JMA report on E-san was in March 2012. This is the first BGVN report discussing E-san.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. A map showing a few of the major volcanoes of Japan, with their respective Alert Levels in March 2012. E-san is in the northernmost prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido. Courtesy of JMA.

According to JMA, in March 2012 steam plumes rose to heights of less than 100 m above the crater rim. Aerial visual and infrared observations coducted in cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism, and the Japan Coast Guard on 16 and 23 March, repectively, found no changes.

A small-amplitude and short-duration volcanic tremor occurred on 30 March. After that, the number of small volcanic earthquakes increased until early on 31 March. No steam plumes could be observed on 31 March due to cloud cover; however, JMA reported no change in air vibrations or crustal deformation data. Field surveys on 2 April found no change in either the steam plumes from the crater or crustal deformation (GPS).

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Otemachi, 1-3-4, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/).

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.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1874 Jun 8 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Es-6 tephra
1874 Jun 8 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Es-6 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
1874 Jun 8    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1846 Nov 18 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Es-5 tephra
1846 Nov 18 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Es-5 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1846    - - - - Fatalities
1846 Nov 18    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1350 (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode NW E-san, Es-4 tephra
1350 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at NW E-san, Es-4 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow

0440 BCE ± 46 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Es-3 tephra
0440 BCE ± 46 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Es-3 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche

1050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode NW E-san, Es-2 tephra
1050 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at NW E-san, Es-2 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

3900 BCE ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode NW E-san, Es-1 tephra
3900 BCE ± 100 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at NW E-san, Es-1 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow

5770 BCE ± 924 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode East flank (Misaka lava dome)
5770 BCE ± 924 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at East flank (Misaka lava dome)

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

6670 BCE ± 27 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Esan lava dome, EsMP tephra
6670 BCE ± 27 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Esan lava dome, EsMP tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
6670 BCE ± 27 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Esan.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Esan.

GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites