What’s new at Nishinoshima, a rapidly growing volcanic island in Japan

Nishinoshima is a volcanic island located in the Ogasawara archipelago, south of Tokyo, Japan that had been expanding since its eruption in 2013. Nishinoshima looks like a small island, but this is actually the summit of a huge seamount that rises more than 3 km (1.8 miles) from the seafloor.

This video, made by the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, talks about the latest findings by volcanologists. 

Video courtesy University of Tokyo/Earthquake Research Institute.

The video is participating in the event Science AGORA2020 — November 15 – 22, 2020.

The small island of Nishinoshima was enlarged when several new islands coalesced during an eruption in 1973/74.

Another eruption that began offshore in 2013 completely covered the previously exposed surface and enlarged the island again. Water discoloration has been observed on several occasions since.

The island is the summit of a massive submarine volcano that has prominent satellitic peaks to the S, W, and NE.

A series of powerful eruptions were recorded in July and August 2020.

Nishinoshima on July 11, 2020. Image credit: JMA

Image credit: NASA/NOAA Aqua/MODIS, Acquired July 31, 2020.

Nishinoshima on June 29. Image credit: JCG

For more information about recent eruptions at Nishinoshima, visit watchers.news/tag/nishinoshima.

Featured image: Nishinoshima on October 28, 2020. Credit: Japan Coast Guard/3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters