In news– Sakurajima volcano in Japan has erupted recently.
About the Sakurajima Volcano-
- It is located in Kagoshima, southern island of Kyushu in Japan.
- Most of the city of Kagoshima is across the bay from the volcano.
- Sakurajima was an island pre-1914. After an eruption in 1914, it became a peninsula. In 2019, it spewed ash 5.5 km high.
- Japan is known for its volcanic eruptions. It has over a hundred active volcanoes, more than any other country, and it accounts for nearly 10% of all active volcanoes in the world.
- These volcanoes belong to the Pacific Ring of Fire, a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
- Japan is situated at the junction of four tectonic plates, the Pacific, Philippine, Eurasian and North American plates.
- Its volcanoes are mainly located in the five subduction-zone-related volcanic arcs, where the Pacific plate comes under the North American plate forming the Izu-Bonin Trench. The Philippine plate descends under the Eurasian plate, forming the Ryukyu Trench.
- Mt. Fuji is a 3,776-meter tall mountain, and is, in fact, an active stratovolcano. It has layers of hardened lava, creating a steep slope with a crater on the top. While Fuji hasn’t erupted since 1707, scientists expect an eruption could happen soon, and the volcanic ash could affect major cities like Tokyo.
- Japan’s most active volcano, Mt. Aso, it erupted recently in 2021.
- The Kirishima mountain range is another active volcano located in Kyushu and is famous for its natural beauty and volcanic peaks. Its highest peak, Karakun-dake, is about 1,700 meters and the range is a popular hiking destination.
What is an active/dormant volcano?
- An active volcano is a volcano which is either erupting or is likely to erupt in the future.
- An active volcano which is not currently erupting is known as a dormant volcano.
Active volcanoes around the world-
- There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
- About 500 of those 1,350 volcanoes have erupted in historical time. Many of those are located along the Pacific Rim in what is known as the “Ring of Fire.”
- According to a National Geographic report, 75% of the Earth’s volcanoes, which accounts for more than 450 volcanoes, are located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- Along with volcanoes, 90% of the planet’s earthquakes occur along this path, including the most violent and dramatic seismic events.
- The movement of tectonic plates in this area is responsible for the abundance of volcanoes and earthquakes.
- The plates overlap at convergent boundaries known as subduction zones when plates that lie underneath are pushed down or subducted by the plate above. Following is the list of some of the active volcanoes-
- Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland.
- Mount Merapi, Indonesia.
- Erta Ale, Ethiopia.
- Mount Stromboli, Italy.
- Kilauea, Hawaii.
- Pacaya, Guatemala.
- Mount Etna, Italy.
- Mount Yasur, Vanuatu.
- Volcán de Colima, Mexico.
- Vesuvius, Italy.
- White Island, New Zealand.
- Mount Cleveland, Alaska.
- Santa María, Guatemala.
- Galeras, Colombia.
- Karymsky, Russia.
- Nevados de Chillán, Chile.
- Sangay, Ecuador.
- Ebeko, Paramushir Island (Russia).
- Mount Erebus, Antarctica.
Source: Times Now
