Aso volcano
Updated: Jun 6, 2023 22:30 GMT -
caldera 1592 m / 5,223 ft
central Kyushu, Japan, 32.88°N / 131.11°E
Current status: restless (2 out of 5)
central Kyushu, Japan, 32.88°N / 131.11°E
Current status: restless (2 out of 5)
Last update: 29 Mar 2023 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
The huge Aso caldera seen from space: 25 by 18 km in size, it was created by at least 4 huge eruptions between 270 to 90 thousand years ago (image: NASA Earth Observatory)
Aso (or Asosan) volcano in central Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan is one of the world's most active volcanoes. In recent years, it has been the site of frequent ash eruptions.
Aso is no single edifice, but a complex of active vents in the center of a large 24 km wide caldera.
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Aso volcano eruptions: 2021, 2019-2020, 2016, 2014-15, 2011 (May), 2005, 2004, 2003, 1994-95, 1992-93, 1989-91, 1988, 1984-85, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1979-80, 1977-78, 1975-76, 1973-75, 1970-72, 1967-69, 1964-66, 1964, 1963-64, 1963, 1960-62, 1960, 1959, 1957-58, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952(?), 1951, 1950-51, 1949, 1948, 1947, 1946, 1945, 1943-44, 1943, 1942(?), 1940-41, 1938-39, 1937, 1936, 1935, 1934, 1932-33, 1931(?), 1930, 1928-29, 1926-28, 1925, 1923, 1920, 1919, 1918, 1916, 1914, 1911-12, 1910, 1909, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1898-99, 1897, 1894, 1884, 1874, 1872-73, 1856, 1854, 1838, 1837, 1835, 1830-32, 1830, 1829, 1828, 1827-28, 1827, 1826, 1816, 1815, 1814, 1806, 1804, 1781-88, 1772-80, 1765, 1753(?)-54, 1709, 1708(?), 1691, 1683, 1675, 1671, 1668-69, 1668, 1649, 1637, 1631, 1620, 1613, 1612, 1611, 1598-99, 1592, 1587, 1584, 1583, 1582, 1576, 1564, 1563(?), 1562, 1558-59, 1542, 1533, 1522, 1506, 1505, 1485, 1473-74, 1438, 1434, 1390(?) 1388(?), 1387, 1377, 1376, 1375-76, 1369, 1346, 1343, 1340, 1335, 1331-33, 1331, 1324, 1305, 1286, 1281, 1274, 1273, 1272, 1272, 1271, 1269, 1265, 1240, 1239, 1229, 986(?), 867, 864, 796(?), 553
Latest nearby earthquakes
No recent earthquakesBackground
The 24-km-wide Aso caldera was formed during four major explosive eruptions from 300,000 to 90,000 years ago. These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows that covered much of Kyushu. The last of these, the Aso-4 eruption, produced more than 600 cu km of airfall tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits. A group of 17 central cones was constructed in the middle of the caldera, one of which, Naka-dake, is one of Japan's most active volcanoes. It was the location of Japan's first documented historical eruption in 553 AD. The Naka-dake complex has remained active throughout the Holocene. Several other cones have been active during the Holocene, including the Kometsuka scoria cone as recently as about 210 AD. Historical eruptions have largely consisted of basaltic to basaltic-andesite ash emission with periodic strombolian and phreatomagmatic activity. The summit crater of Naka-dake is accessible by toll road and cable car, and is one of Kyushu's most popular tourist destinations.---
Source: GVP Aso volcano information
Aso Photos
Alaid stratovolcano, Atlasof Island, Northern Kuriles (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
Alaid volcano on Atlasov Island (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
The Malia Vgethi volcano and the western cape of Methana (Krasopanagia). (Photo: Tobias Schorr) |
Otherwise, the passage between Atlasof and the western coast of Paramushir Island is in fine weather. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
1997 fatalities
2 tourists were killed by volcanic gas 100 m south of the rim of Crater 1 on 23 November 1997. Since 1980, more than 70 people have been injured by volcanic gases at Aso and have been hospitalized.
2 tourists were killed by volcanic gas 100 m south of the rim of Crater 1 on 23 November 1997. Since 1980, more than 70 people have been injured by volcanic gases at Aso and have been hospitalized.
1979 fatalities
3 people were killed and 11 injured by ballistic blocks ejected by an explosion that occurred at about 1pm local time on 6 September 1979.
3 people were killed and 11 injured by ballistic blocks ejected by an explosion that occurred at about 1pm local time on 6 September 1979.
See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS
