New eruption at underwater Funka Asane vent near Kita-Ioto volcano, Japan

A new eruption has started at the underwater Funka Asane vent near Kita-Ioto volcano, Japan on Sunday, March 27, 2022. The last confirmed eruption at this volcano lasted from 1930 to 1945 (VEI 2).

The eruption started at around 09:00 UTC on March 27, with ash rising up to 7 km (23 000 feet) above sea level by 14:30 UTC. The emissions continued into March 28 and dissipated on satellite imagery by 05:20 UTC.¹

As a result, the Japan Meteorological Agency has raised the alert level to 3 (of 5).

Ash rising from underwater Funka Asane volcano (Kita-Ioto), Japan at 14:30 UTC on March 27, 2022. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, EUMETSAT, RAMMB/CIRA, TW

Aircraft and ships were warned to avoid the area due to the risk of ash and gasses, pumice and other debris.²

Geological summary

No historical eruptions have occurred from the deeply eroded Kita-Ioto stratovolcano, which forms a steep-sided basaltic cone rising about 800 m (2 600 feet) above the sea.

However, eruptions have been recorded since the 18th century from Funka Asane, a submarine vent 4 – 5 km (2.5 – 3.1 miles) NW of the island.

Kita-Ioto is the northernmost of the Kazan Retto (Volcano Islands), located in the middle of the Izu-Marianas arc.³

References:

¹ Tokyo VAAC VAA – March 27, 2022

² Asane Eruption warning (surrounding sea area) March 27, 2022 – JMA

³ Kita-Ioto – Geological summary – GVP

Featured image: Ash rising from underwater Funka Asane volcano (Kita-Ioto), Japan at 14:30 UTC on March 27, 2022. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, EUMETSAT, RAMMB/CIRA, TW