Aogashima
Stratovolcano in Japan
Key Facts
Elevation
423 m (1,388 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
32.458°, 139.759°
Region
Izu Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The small 2. 5 x 3. 5 km dominantly basaltic island of Aogashima is surrounded by steep cliffs and contains a small 1.
7 x 1. 5-km-wide caldera. Two pyroclastic cones were formed inside the caldera during the latest eruption from 1780 to 1785.
Growth of the volcano began with construction of the Kurosaki stratovolcano in the NW part of the island, after which the main stratovolcano began growing in the SE. Both summit and flank vents produced pyroclastic surges and lava flows. Late in the construction of the main cone a 1-1.
5 km crater was formed on the SE flank. About 3000 years ago pyroclastic surges swept over the entire island. During about the next 600 years, lava flows and scoria deposits filled the SE crater, which also collapsed repeatedly.
The current Ikenosawa crater was considered by Takada et al. (1992) to have formed by ring collapse at the time of a debris avalanche, after which the volcano was quiescent until the eruptions of historical time.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 241 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 284060
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The 2.5 x 3.5 km island of Aogashima, seen here from the SE, is located in the central Izu Islands. It is has steep cliffs on all sides and contains a small 1.5 x 1.7 km caldera. Two cones were formed inside the caldera during the latest eruption from 1780 to 1785.
Photo by Richard Fiske (Smithsonian Institution).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.