Kasuga 2
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
-274 m (-899 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
21.600°, 143.637°
Region
Mariana Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Kasuga 2, also referred to as Minami Kasuga (South Kasuga), is the central of three volcanoes forming the Kasuga seamount chain, which trends SSW from the volcanic front of the Izu-Marianas arc. It rises from about 3,000 m depth to within 170 m of the ocean surface. Two subsidiary cones are located low on the E flank.
The morphology is more complex than Kasuga 1 to the north, and prominent ridges separate slopes of interspersed volcaniclastic and lava flow fields. Radiometric dating indicates an age of less than 8,000 years and probably less than 1,000 years; radium/thorium disequilibrium ratios suggest the flows may be only a few centuries old (Fryer et al. , 1997).
Active hydrothermal vents are located at the summit, at the base of summit ridges, and on the lower flanks.
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 | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 284135
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Minami Kasuga (South Kasuga) submarine volcano is seen in this bathymetric image, looking from the SW with 2x vertical exaggeration. Bathymetic contours are overlain on SeaBat data courtesy of Koichi Nakamura (National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan). It rises from about 3,000 m depth to within about 170 m of the sea surface. Two smaller cones are located low on the eastern flank. Active hydrothermal fields are located at the summit of and lower flanks.
Image courtesy of NOAA vents program, 2006 (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06fire).
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.