Undersea volcano eruption creates new island south of Tokyo

Volcanic eruption forms new island south of Tokyo photo 1

According to the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo, the island could expand further if the volcano continues to erupt. (Source: Japantimes)

Japanese researchers say a recent undersea volcanic eruption has led to the formation of a new island near Iwo Jima, about 1,200km south of the capital Tokyo.

The new island, consisting mainly of rock, was formed north of the volcanic eruption site and is part of the Ogasawara Islands.

The island could expand further if the volcano continues to erupt, according to the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo.

Professor Setsuya Nakada, emeritus professor of volcanology at the University of Tokyo, said magma had been erupting under the sea for some time on Iwo Jima. This is known as a phreatomagmatic eruption, with magma solidifying into rock below the surface.

Professor Nakada flew over the area last week. He said that after the October 30 eruption, the solidified magma that had accumulated began to break through the surface, causing the new island to form.

According to Professor Nakada, the island is made of pumice that is easily eroded, but as long as the volcano is active, the possibility of the island surviving is high because the lava flows will help protect it. However, it is still uncertain whether there will be further eruptions.

Professor Nakada added that the way the island emerged was similar to how another new island formed in 2013, eventually merging with Nishinoshima, an island in the Ogasawara chain.

Nishinoshima Island was also created from an underwater volcanic eruption, eventually measuring about 2km in diameter.

According to Professor Nakada, there is a possibility that the new island will merge with Iwo Jima if the volcano continues to erupt.

Earlier, the Japan Meteorological Agency said that since October 21, tremors have been detected every few minutes on Iwo Jima Island, followed by eruptions off the southern coast.

Iwo Jima Island is an active volcano in the southern Ogasawara island chain. It is about 60 km north of the undersea Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano, which had a major undersea eruption in 2021.

VNA

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