Nishino-shima volcano (Japan): significant growth of the new island by continuing lava flows and strombolian activity
Mon, 28 Jul 2014, 15:38
15:38 PM | BY: T
Nishinoshima on 23 July (image: Japanese Coast Guard)

A vent near the eastern coast feeding 2 lava flows

Ash emissions / strombolian explosion at the central vent

Map illustrating the growth of the island during the past months
They show active lava flows reaching the sea and enlarging the island continuously, most notably towards the east, where a stretch of new land up to 250 m wide was added during only 1 month!
Much of this growth can be attributed to a new effusive vent located near the coast itself (s. second picture). However, it is unclear whether it is a true vent or only a so-called ephemeral vent formed by lava exiting a tube system and ultimately still coming from the central vent.
At the central vent, a prominent cone has grown by ongoing explosive activity, strombolian-type, ejecting lava bombs and ash plumes. The cone now probably surpasses the still official summit height of the island, 38 m, formed by the peak of the older, now small-in-comparison part that formed the island before the current eruption.
Video of the overflight on 23 July:
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Previous news
Wed, 16 Jul 2014, 14:27
Nishino-shima volcano (Volcano Islands, Japan) activity update
The currently fastest growing island of the world remains active, with both effusive (lava flows enlarging the island) and explosive activity (strombolian and phreatomagmatic = water-magma explosions). Read all
Wed, 9 Jul 2014, 06:00
Nishinoshima volcano (Japan) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 9 July-15 July 2014 (Continuing Activity)
Tokyo VAAC reported volcanic ash from Nishinoshima at 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. at 2203 on 30 June; the plume extended NE. However, ash was not visible in satellite images. ... Read all
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