Nishinoshima (Ogasawara)

Nishinoshima
Native name:
西之島
Nishinoshima on 1 December 2018
Nishinoshima is located in Japan
Nishinoshima
Nishinoshima
Nishinoshima (Japan)
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates27°14′49″N 140°52′28″E / 27.24694°N 140.87444°E / 27.24694; 140.87444
ArchipelagoVolcano Islands
Total islands1
Area4.1[1] km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Highest elevation200 m (700 ft)
Administration
PrefectureTokyo
SubprefectureOgasawara Subprefecture
VillageOgasawara
Demographics
Population0

Nishi-no-shima (Japanese: 西之島, "western island") is a volcanic island located around 940 km (584 mi) south-southeast of Tokyo,[2] that is part of the Volcano Islands arc. Nishinoshima is located about 130 km to the west of the nearest of the Ogasawara islands, hence the name, but the other Ogasawara island groups are aligned north-south. The nearest of the other Volcano islands is over 270 km away, but Nishinoshima is on the alignment of the Volcano islands. It was formed by ash from a underwater volcanic eruption.

Originally the above-water part of the ridge of an underwater caldera, Nishinoshima was enlarged in 1974 after fresh eruptions created a new section of the island. Another eruption that began in November 2013 further enlarged the island and attracted worldwide attention.[3][4][5] A volcanic cone soon formed, rising to an estimated height of 142 m (466 ft) by July 2016.[2][6] The eruptions ceased by November 2015, though emissions of volcanic gases continued for several months afterwards.

As of 2016, the island was about 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi) in size and showed evidence of the return of various plants and animal species.[7]

There were further eruptions in 2017,[8] 2018, and in 2019–2020.[9] As of 14 August 2020, it is about 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi) and over 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter.[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference asahi20200828 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Nishinoshima". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference International Business Times was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "西之島｜海域火山データベース｜海上保安庁 海洋情報部". www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Nishinoshima island south of Tokyo erupts, lava heads to sea". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Nishinoshima: Eruptive History". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 24 June 2021.