Volcano Live
volcanolive.com
Asama Volcano | John Seach
Honshu, Japan
36.40 N, 138.53 E
summit elevation 2560 m
complex volcano
Asama volcano is located in central Hunshu, Japan, 130 km NW of Tokyo. Asama is the most active volcano on Honshu. Asama has had several major plinian eruptions, the last two of which occurred in 1108 and 1783 AD. Asama is heavily monitored with seismographs and videos cameras.
2019 Eruption
Small phreatic eruptions occurred at Asama volcano in August 2019.
2015 Eruption
A small eruption occurred at the summit of Asama on 16 June 2015 with ashfall to the NE within 4 km of the crater.
2009 Eruption
Asama volcano erupted on 2nd February at 1:51 am, local time, sending ash to a height of 1.6 km, and ejecting rocks 1 km from the crater. Ashfall was reported in Tokyo, 145 km SE of the volcano.
2008 Eruptions
Three small ash eruptions occurred at Asama volcano in August 2008. This was the first activity at the volcano since 2004.
2004 Eruption
A single vulcanian eruption occurred at Asama volcano at 11:02 UT on 1st September 2004. Incandescent blocks were ejected several kilometers from the summit and caused many fires..
1995 Earthquakes
In April 1995, more than 1000 earthquakes were detected at the volcano.
1983 Eruptions
An explosive eruption occurred on 8th April. Incandescent tephra was ejected, and ash fell 250 km from the volcano.
1982 Eruption
Explosive eruptions occurred at the summit of asama volcano on 26th April. Fine ash fell in Tokyo, 130 km to the SE, for the first time in 23 years.
1910-1960 Eruptions
Vulcanian type eruptions frequently occurred at the summit crater.
1783 Eruption
The 3-month eruption of Asama volcano in 1783 started on 9th May 1783. The eruption produced andesitic pumice falls, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and built a cone. The climactic eruption began on the night of 4th August, and lasted for 15 hours, when there was pumice fall and pyroclastic flows. The eruption killed 1400 people.
Further Reading
Nakatani, T., Sugaya, S., Yasui, M., Okumura, S. and Nakamura, M., 2021. Amorphous silica coating on flank deposits of the 1783 CE eruption at Asama volcano. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 411, p.107149.
Heki, K., 2006. Explosion energy of the 2004 eruption of the Asama Volcano, central Japan, inferred from ionospheric disturbances. Geophysical Research Letters, 33(14).
Takeo, M., Aoki, Y., Ohminato, T. and Yamamoto, M., 2006. Magma supply path beneath Mt. Asama volcano, Japan. Geophysical Research Letters, 33(15).
Asama Volcano Eruptions
2019, 2015, 2009, 2008, 2004, 2003, 1990, 1983, 1982, 1982, 1973, 1965, 1961, 1958-59, 1953-55, 1952, 1952, 1950-51, 1949, 1947, 1946, 1944-45, 1938-42, 1935-37, 1934, 1934, 1933, 1931-32, 1930, 1929, 1929, 1927-28, 1924, 1922, 1920-21, 1919, 1918?, 1917, 1916, 1915, 1914, 1909-14, 1908, 1908, 1907, 1907, 1906, 1905?, 1904, 1903, 1902, 1902, 1900-01, 1899, 1899, 1894, 1889, 1879, 1878?, 1875, 1869, 1815, 1803, 1803, 1783, 1779?, 1777, 1776, 1769, 1762, 1755, 1754, 1733, 1732, 1731, 1729, 1729, 1728, 1723, 1723, 1722, 1721, 1720, 1719, 1718, 1717, 1711, 1710, 1708-09, 1706, 1704, 1703, 1669, 1661, 1661, 1660, 1659, 1658, 1657, 1656, 1655, 1653, 1652, 1651, 1650?, 1649, 1648, 1648, 1647, 1645, 1644, 1609, 1605, 1604, 1600, 1598, 1597, 1596, 1596, 1595?, 1591, 1590, 1532, 1528, 1527, 1518, 1427?, 1281, 1108, 887, 685