Ambrym Vulkan

Updated: 30. Nov. 2025 11:23 GMT - refresh

shield volcano

Vanuatu, -16.25°S / 168.12°E

+Ortszeit:

Sonnenaufgang:

Sonnenuntergang:

Mondaufgang:

Monduntergang:

Summit height: 1334 m (4,377 ft)

Aktueller Status: unruhig (2 von 5)

Last update: 1 Okt 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

The crater of Benbow (Ambrym)

Ambrym is a large basaltic volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera. It is not only one of the most active volcanoes of Vanuatu, but in the world. Its most active craters often contain small lava lakes.

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Typische Aktivität: Effusive, formation of lava lakes
Ausbrüche des Ambrym: 1774, 1820(?), 1863, 1870(?), 1871, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1888, 1894, 1898, 1908, 1909(?), 1910, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1929, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977 (2x), 1979 (2x), 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009 -ongoing

Letzte Erdbeben in der Nähe

Datum und Uhrzeit	Mag / Tiefe	Distanz / Ort

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Beschreibung

Ambrym is a large basaltic volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera. It is not only one of the most active volcanoes of Vanuatu, but also in the world.
Ambrym's caldera is a wide, impressive moon-like landscape containing an ash plain, cut by innumerable erosion gullies and containing several active craters and recent lava flows.
The caldera is believed to have formed during a major plinian eruption with dacitic pyroclastic flows about 1900 years ago. Activity after the caldera formation was concentrated around two vents that have become large complex craters called Marum and Benbow. Often, both Marum and Benbow (as well as other craters) contain small lava lakes, which occasionally erupt lava flows onto the caldera floor, or even exit the caldera through erosion gaps.
The post-caldera eruptions have also formed a series of scoria cones and maars along a fissure system oriented ENE-WSW. Eruptions have apparently occurred almost yearly during historical time from cones within the caldera or from flank vents. However, from 1850 to 1950, reporting was mostly limited to extra-caldera eruptions that would have affected local populations.
Occasionally, explosive eruptions occur from the craters, mostly because of water-magma interaction. Such eruptions produce tall clouds of ash, and can cause serious health problems in the local population because the ash contaminates ground water.

Ambrym Volcano Photos

Ein sehr ungewöhnlich freier Blick auf das Innere des Benbow Kraters am Abend. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Sehr flüssige Lava wird aus dem Schlot geworfen. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Süd- (l) und Nordschlot (r) im Bembow mit ihren kleinen Lavaseen am Abend. Heftiger Schlackenwurf aus dem Südkrater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Der tiefe zweite Krater von Benbow (Photo: Yashmin Chebli)

More photos

Bedeutende Vulkanausbrüche: Ambrym volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Ambrym has had at least 57 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 56 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption im Jahr 1870 from Ambrym volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Ambrym volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Ambrym can be found on the news page of Ambrym volcano.

Datum	Hinweis	VEI	Todesopfer	Schaden
2024 Okt 3 - Nov 12	Hist. dokumentiert	?		unbekannt
2024 Jan 13 - Jan 16	Hist. dokumentiert	?		unbekannt
2022 Jan 25 - Feb 2 ±1 d.	Benbow Crater Hist. dokumentiert	1		unbekannt
2008 Mai 23 - 2018 Dez 17	Benbow and Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
2018 Dez 15 (Ausbruch 2008 Mai 23 - 2018 Dez 17)	Hist. dokumentiert	2		mittel	Info
2018 Dez 15: VMGD observations and seismic data analysis confirm an ongoing emission of ash and gas from eruptive vents from Benbow and Marum craters and ongoing localized earthquake activity in the south eastern part of Ambrym. This earthquake activity is related to the current volcano eruption. Ash fall and gases have been observed primarily over the North Eastern side of the island. Earthquake activity has caused cracks on buildings and land in some areas, especially in the South East Ambrym area. Roads, water supplies, buildings and gardens have been damaged. (reference #12309) The entire 159 Pamel community members in Southeast Ambrym have relocated themselves to Ulei village nearby as there were some damaged due to earthquake damages in their infrastructures. (reference #12351) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #12309 Vanuatu Disaster Management Office (2018): NEOC Situation Update - Ambrym Volcanic Activity. 19 December 2018. #12351 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2018): Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA), Vanuatu: Ambrym Volcano & Earthquake. DREF # MDRVU007. Date of issue: 28 December 2018. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2006 Nov 8 - 2007 Dez 27 oder danach	Marum (Mbwelesu) Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1996 Jun 16 ±15 d. - 2005 Aug 16 ±15 d.	Benbow, Marum, Niri Mbelesu, Mbwelesu Hist. dokumentiert	1		unbekannt
1994 Dez 16 ±15 d.	Benbow and Marum Hist. dokumentiert	1?		unbekannt
1990 Sep 16 ±15 d. - 1991 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Mbwelesu, Niri Mbwelesu, Niri Taten Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1989 Apr 24 - Dez 23	Marum, Benbow, Niri Mbwelesu Taten Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1988 Feb 12 ? - Aug 23	Benbow, Mbwelesu, Marum, Niri Taten Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1986 Nov 13 - Nov 19 ?	New cone 3 km east of Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1984 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1986 Mär 8 oder danach	Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1983 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1981 Feb 20 - Sep 30	Benbow, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1980 Mai 16 - Aug 18	Marum Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1979 Jun 6 - Sep 16 ±15 d.	Benbow, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1979 Jan 26 ±5 d. - Feb 18 ?	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1977 Aug 16 ±15 d. - Sep 30	Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1977 Jan 20 ±5 d. - Jan 28 ?	Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1973 Apr 15 ±5 d. - 1976 Okt 14	Benbow, Mbuelesu, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1972 Apr 15 - Aug 15	Benbow, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1971 Feb 3 - Nov 5	Marum, Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1967 Jul 16 ±15 d. - 1970 Aug 29	Marum, Benbow, Mbuelesu Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1964 Feb 16 ±15 d. - 1966 Sep 16 ±15 d.	Marum, Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1963 Aug 30 - Sep 23 oder danach	Benbow, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1961 Aug 15 - 1963 Apr 3	Benbow, Marum, south of Marum Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1960 Sep 17	Mbuelesu, Benbow, near Marum Hist. dokumentiert	1?		unbekannt
1959 Apr 16 ±15 d.	Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1958 Nov 18	Benbow and Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2?		unbekannt
1957 Aug 26 ±5 d. - Okt 16 ±15 d.	Benbow, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	1?		unbekannt
1955 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1954 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1953 Mai 16 ±15 d. - Okt 13 ?	Benbow, Mbuelesu, S flank of Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1952 Aug 10 - Dez 26 ±5 d.	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1950 Dez 6 - 1951 Nov 25 ±5 d.	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	4+		unbekannt
1942 Jun 6	NW flank of Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1938	Benbow, Marum ? Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1937 Mär 27 - Apr	Benbow and west flank Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1935 Sep - 1936 Jan	Benbow Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1929 Jun 28 - Jul 1	Benbow, west flank, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1915 Okt 20	Marum, crater at SE point Hist. dokumentiert	2		unbekannt
1913 Dez 6 (Ausbruch 1913 Okt 14 - 1914)	Hist. dokumentiert	3	21	schwer	Info
1913 Dez 6: Several villages were destroyed; explosions destroyed the mission hospital at Dip Point, killing 21 persons. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1913 Okt 14 - 1914	Benbow, west flank, Marum Hist. dokumentiert	3		unbekannt
1912	Marum ?, west flank ? Hist. dokumentiert	?		unbekannt
1910	Base of Marum Hist. dokumentiert	0?		unbekannt
1909 Jul 28 ?	Hist. dokumentiert	2?		unbekannt
1908	Hist. dokumentiert	2?		unbekannt

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Anmerkung:

Unsere Liste von Vulkanausbrüchen orientiert sich eng an der Datenbank des Global Volcanism Project (GVP) des Smithsonian Instituts, der international anerkanntesten globalen Datenquelle für Vulkanausbrüche. Sie schließt aber auch bedeutende Eruptionsepisoden oder damit zusammenhängende Vulkanereignisse ein. Unter "Vulkanausbrüchen" versteht man in der Regel meist Serien einzelner Eruptionsepisoden, die zeitlich aufeinander folgen oder sich (bei mehreren beteiligten Ausbruchspunkten an einem Vulkan) auch überlappen können und unter Umständen viele Jahre, Jahrzehnte oder noch länger andauern können. So ist z.B. die aktuelle Tätigkeit des Stromboli als ein einziger Ausbruch verstanden, der seit 1934 anhält.

Quellen: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Ambrym Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Ambrym volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Ambrym occurred im Jahr 2024.

+How often does Ambrym volcano erupt?

Since 1774, Ambrym volcano has had at least 56 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 4.5 years.
Many eruptions of Ambrym have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 89 out of 251 years until now. In other words, Ambrym has been active at least one in 2.8 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Ambrym is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Ambrym volcano at present?

Ambrym volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been frequently active, showing eruptive activity during 77 years out of 126 as of now. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 13 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Ambrym volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Ambrym volcano occurred ungefähr im Jahr 50 AD. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Neueste Satellitenbilder

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Letzte Satellitenbilder

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Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).