Get our newsletter!  
 Volcano Discoveries: "One of the most eye-catching guides to the world’s volcanoes ever published.  VolcanoAdventures: Our professional team of volcanologists and photographers offers unique travel opportunities: volcano expeditions, photo tours, and relaxed walking & study tours.  The Volcano Adventure Guide: Excellent information and background for anyone wishing to visit active volcanoes safely and enjoyably. The book presents guidelines to visiting 42 different volcanoes around the world. Guaranteed tours:
: spaces available / : guaranteed / : few spaces left / : booked out Random pictures | |
 Heard Island is the top of an active stratovolcano on the Kerguelen Plateau in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4000 km southwest of Western Australia. Part of Australian territory, along with McDonald Island to the west, Heard is one of Australia's two currently active volcanoes.
The volcano is frequently active, and occasional reports of eruptions date back to 1881. Since about 1980, remote sensing mostly via satellites has been able to detect more and frequent activity at the volcano.
The 368 sq km island with its highest point Mawson Peak at 2745 m forms the highest point of Australian territory outside Antarctica.
The uninhabited island was discovered by and named after Captain John Heard in 1853. Its remote location and typically extremely adverse weather and wind conditions make it difficult to access and only few expeditions have reached it. An Australian navy base existed on the island at Atlas Cove on the western side of Big Ben between December 1947 and March 1955.
Stratovolcano 2745 m / 9,006 ft Australia, Southern Indian Ocean, -53.11°S / 73.51°E Current status: restless (2 out of 5) Heard webcams / live data | ReportsHeard volcano books | ToursHeard volcano eruptions:2018 (?), 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012-13, 2006-08, 2003-04, 2000-01, 1993, 1992 (May), 1992 (Jan) (?), 1985-87, 1954, 1953, 1950-52, 1910, 1881 (?) Typical eruption style:unspecified Last earthquakes nearby
Latest satellite images  Heard Island volcano news & activity updatesHeard Island (Australia): new hot spot suggesting renewed activityMonday Jul 08, 2013 15:25 PM | BY: T  MODIS hot spot data (past 2 days) for Heard volcano (ModVolc, Univ. Hawaii)
A thermal hot spot is again visible at the Mawson Peak summit crater of the island, suggesting renewed activity. Due to the remoteness of the uninhabited island, which is rarely visited, only satellite data are usually available to detect activity.
This is the first sign of possible new lava effusion since May, when a lava flow was detected on the SW flank. Previous newsThursday, May 02, 2013 Effusive eruptive activity at the remote volcano continues. A recent satellite picture shows a new lava flow on the SW flank of Mawson Peak. A MODIS hot spot is visible as well. ... [more]
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2013 The Smithsonian / GVP monthly Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network for Jan 2013 confirms that Heard Island volcano is in eruption. A series of satellite images compared side by side show that the volcano started to produce lava (over-)flows from the summit crater of the Mawson Peak on the SE flank since December past year. [more] Monday, Mar 25, 2013
A significant heat source continues to show up on MODIS satellite data. A recent (9 March) EO1-Hyperion (NASA) satellite picture shows what could be a lava lake in the summit crater of Mawson Peak. ... [more]Monday, Mar 18, 2013 A significant hot spot continues to be detected at the summit crater of Heard volcano. A recent Terra / Modis satellite image of parts of the volcano (which usually is completely hidden under clouds) shows a dark area immediately to the west of Mawson Peak. This could correspond to a fresh lava flow. [more]Friday, Mar 08, 2013 MODIS hot spots have remained visible at the summit of Heard island, suggesting ongoing activity at this very remote volcano. [more]More on VolcanoDiscovery: Volcano Tours on Hawai'i: The Hawaiian Islands are not only home to the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island, but also boast a unique natural environment. Born by volcanic activity of a very active hot spot in the middle of the Pacific Plate, they are a showcase of natural history.  Intraplate volcanism: A third tectonic setting where volcanism occurs is believed to be the result of mantle plumes and not directly related to plate boundaries. So called hot spot volcanoes fall into this category. |
