Active Volcanoes of the World

Nyamuragira ( Congo )

What is a volcanic eruption? The arrival of volcanic products at the surface of the Earth or

other planetary bodies is termed an eruption. Some definitions of the word include purely gaseous expulsions, but we confine the term to events that involve the explosive ejection of fragmental material, the effusion of liquid lava, or both. Other definitions restrict eruptions to magmatic events, but the fragmental material ejected may be old as well as new.

Whakaari ( New Zealand )

How many active volcanoes are known?

Erupting now: perhaps 20

Each year: 50-70

Each decade: about 160

Historical eruptions:

about 550

Known Holocene eruptions (last 10,000 years):

about 1300

Known (and possible) Holocene eruptions:

about 1500

Erupting now: perhaps 20

Each year: 50-70

Each decade: about 160

Historical eruptions:

about 550

Known Holocene eruptions (last 10,000 years):

about 1300

Known (and possible) Holocene eruptions:

about 1500

Soufriere ( Caribbean Island )

How long does an eruption last? Clearly some eruptions last for a very long time, like

Stromboli's At the turn of the century the following 15 volcanoes have been erupting more or less continuously through the last three decades and are likely to remain active for some time:

Stromboli and Etna (Italy); Erta Ale (Ethiopia); Manam, Langila, and Bagana (Papua New Guinea); Yasur (Vanuatu); Semeru and Dukono (Indonesia); Sakura-jima (Japan); Santa Maria and Pacaya (Guatemala); Arenal (Costa Rica); Sangay (Ecuador); and Erebus (Antarctica). However, other eruptions end swiftly: 10% of those for which we have accurate durations lasted no longer than a single day, most end in less than 3 months, and few last longer than 3 years. The median duration is about 7 weeks.

Mount Etna ( Italy )

Has volcanic activity has been increasing? A look at the number of volcanoes active per year, over the

last few centuries, shows a dramatic increase, but one that is closely related to increases in the world's human population and communication.

How do scientists forecast volcanic eruptions? Scientists use a wide variety of techniques to monitor

volcanoes, including seismographic detection of the earthquakes and tremor that almost always precede eruptions, precise measurements of ground deformation that often accompanies the rise of magma, changes in volcanic gas emissions, and changes in gravity and magnetic fields. Although not diagnostic individually, these techniques, when used in combination at well-monitored volcanoes, have resulted in successful predictions. At Pinatubo volcano (Philippines) in 1991, a successful forecast saved thousands of lives

Kilauea ( Hawaiian Islands )

Most Active Volcanoes in the world Many volcanoes have been in continuous eruption for

decades. Etna, Stromboli, and Yasur have been erupting for hundreds

or thousands of years.

Mayon ( Philippines )

Most Active Volcanoes in the world The following 4 volcanoes emit the most lava. Kilauea

(Hawaii), Mt Etna (Italy), Piton de la Fournaise (Réunion), Nyamuragira, (D.R. Congo)

The Chaiten ( Chile )

Most Active Volcanoes in the world

Volcano Name Location Continuous Eruptions

Etna Italy 3500 years

Stromboli Italy 2000 years

Yasur Vanuatu 800 years

Ambrym Vanuatu 1935-

Tinakula Solomon Islands 1951?-

Erta Ale Ethiopia 1967-

Manam Papua New Guinea 1974-

Langila Papua New Guinea 1960-

Bagana Papua New Guinea 1972-

Semeru Indonesia 1967-

Merapi Indonesia 1967-

Dukono Indonesia 1933-

Sakura-jima Japan 1955-

Suwanose-jima Japan 1949-

Santa Maria Guatemala 1922-

Pacaya Guatemala 1965-

Arenal Costa Rica 1968-

Sangay Ecuador 1934-

Erebus Antarctica 1972-

Piton de la Fournaise Reunion 1920-

Kilauea Hawaii 1983-

Popocatepetl ( Mexico )

Sakurajima ( Japan )