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Aso Volcano | John Seach
(Asosan)
Kyushu, Japan
32.88 N, 131.10 E
summit elevation 1592 m
caldera
Aso volcano is located in the central Kyushu volcanic
field in southwestern Japan. It is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Aso has a 24 km x 18 km wide caldera, which is one of the largest in the world, and home to 50,000 people. There is even a railway inside the caldera. Nakadake (1506 m) is the most active centre in the caldera.
Aso has erupted more than 165 times since 553 AD. In 1997 two tourists were killed by gas on Aso. A number of mud eruptions have occurred from Aso.
2019-2020 Eruptions
Small ash emissions occurred at Asosan volcano in during April and May 2019. Ash emission occurred on 1 January 2020. Ash emissions reached 7000 ft altitude.
2016 Eruption
A major explosion occurred on
8 October 2016 with a large ash plume rising to 11.9 km altitude.
2014-2015 Eruptions
An eruption period lasted from
25 November 2014 to May 2015. A major explosion occurred on 14 September 2015.
2011 Eruptions
A small phreatic eruption occurred at Naka-dake’s crater lake in April 2011. On 16 May an ash eruption sent a plume 800 m above the crater rim.
2005 Eruption
A small eruption occurred on 14th April. A plume reached 200 m above the crater.
2004 Eruption
A mud eruption occurred at Aso's Crater on 14th January. Ash fell at Takamori 10 km ESE of the crater.
2003 Eruption
During 12-14 July there were five small phreatic eruptions.
1997 Fatalities
Two tourists were killed by volcanic gas on 23rd November, 100 m south of the rim of Crater 1. Seventy-one people have been hospitalized due to inhalation of volcanic gases at Aso since 1980.
1979 Fatalities
Three people were killed and 11 were injured by hot blocks ejected at about 1300 on 6th September. Ejecta were 10-20 cm in diameter. The fatalities occurred 900 m from the vent. Blocks fell through a building with 25 cm thick concrete roof. Some of the injuries were to people inside the building.
Further Reading
Miyabuchi, Y., 2009. A 90,000-year tephrostratigraphic framework of Aso Volcano, Japan. Sedimentary Geology, 220(3-4), pp.169-189.
Ono, K., Watanabe, K., Hoshizumi, H. and Ikebe, S.I., 1995. Ash eruption of the Naka-dake crater, Aso volcano, southwestern Japan. Journal of volcanology and geothermal research, 66(1-4), pp.137-148.
Aso Volcano Eruptions
2019-2021, 2016, 2014-2015, 2011, 2005, 2004, 2003, 1994-95, 1992-93, 1989-91, 1988, 1984-85, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1979-80, 1977-78, 1975-76, 1973-75, 1970-72, 1967-69, 1964-66, 1964, 1963-64, 1963, 1960-62, 1960, 1959, 1957-58, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952?, 1951, 1950-51, 1949, 1948, 1947, 1946, 1945, 1943-44, 1943, 1942?, 1940-41, 1938-39, 1937, 1936, 1935, 1934, 1932-33, 1931?, 1930, 1928-29, 1926-28, 1925, 1923, 1920, 1919, 1918, 1916, 1914, 1911-12, 1910, 1909, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1898-99, 1897, 1894, 1884, 1874, 1872-73, 1856, 1854, 1838, 1837, 1835, 1830-32, 1830, 1829, 1828, 1827-28, 1827, 1826, 1816, 1815, 1814, 1806, 1804, 1781-88, 1772-80, 1765, ?1753-54, 1709, 1708?, 1691, 1683, 1675, 1671, 1668-69, 1668, 1649, 1637, 1631, 1620, 1613, 1612, 1611, 1598-99, 1592, 1587, 1584, 1583, 1582, 1576, 1564, 1563?, 1562, 1558-59, 1542, 1533, 1522, 1506, 1505, 1485, 1473-74, 1438, 1434, 1390?, 1388?, 1387, 1377, 1376, 1375-76, 1369, 1346, 1343, 1340, 1335, 1331-33, 1331, 1324, 1305, 1286, 1281, 1274, 1273, 1272, 1272, 1271, 1269, 1265, 1240, 1239, 1229, 986?, 867, 864, 796?, 553.