Suwanose-jima Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2024 03:15 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano 799 m/ 2,621 ft
Ryukyu Islands (Japan), 29.64°N / 129.72°E
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 21 May 2024 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Suwanose-jima (諏訪之瀬島) volcano is Japan's and one of the world's most active volcanoes. It has been in a state of near-continuous strombolian-type eruption since 1949.
The volcano forms the 8 km long spindle-shaped island of the same name in northern Ryuku Islands, Japan. The remote island is home to about 50 residents only.
Suwanose-jima consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with 2 historically active summit craters. Intermittent to continuous strombolian activity began from On-take (Otake), the NE summit crater, in 1949 and has been going on since. After 1996, occasional periods of inactivity have become more frequent.

[smaller] [larger]

Suwanose-jima webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Volcano videos

Typical eruption style: explosive, strombolian
Suwanose-jima volcano eruptions: 2004 (Oct) - ongoing: intermittent strombolian-type activity
Since 1949: essentially continuous activity
2000 (Dec) - Jul 2004 (Jul): strombolian activity, 1999 (Jan-Feb, June), 1996 (Dec) - 1997 (Apr), 1949-96, 1940, 1938, 1934 (?), 1925, 1921-22, 1915 (?), 1914 (?), 1889, 1885, 1884, 1877, 1813-14 (sub-plinian Bunka eruption), around 1600 AD (large explosive eruption)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Time	Mag. / Depth	Distance / Location
May 18, 04:52 am (GMT +9)	2.7 101 km	29 km (18 mi) to the W	East China Sea, Kagoshima, 29 km west of Suwanose-jima Island, Japan	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The summit of Suwanose-jima volcano is truncated by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the east flank that was formed by edifice collapse.

The largest historical eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed residential areas, and the SW crater produced 2 lava flows that reached the western coast. At the end of the eruption the summit of On-take collapsed forming a large debris avalanche and creating the horseshoe-shaped Sakuchi caldera, which extends 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.
(Source: Smithsonian / GVP information)

Eruptions of Suwanose-jima volcano

1979-80 activity
A typical 2 year log of activity from Smithsonian's Monthy reports is presented here, illustrating the pulsating, but essentially persistant strombolian activity observed at Suwanose-jima volcano ...more info