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Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Details for: Whakaari/White Island
Steam rises from the crater of White Island (also called Whakaari), one of the most active volcanoes of New Zealand. The small, uninhabited 2 x 2.4-km-wide island lies 50 km NE of the North Island. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since 1826, and Maori legends record earlier eruptions. This view from the SE shows the two overlapping 0.4 x 1.2 km wide craters at the summit of the largely submerged volcano. Copyrighted photo by Stephen O'Meara.
Volcano Number:
241040
Volcano Name:
Whakaari/White Island
Country:
New Zealand
Volcano Type:
Stratovolcano(es)
Last Eruption:
2019 CE
Elevation:
294m
Tectonic Setting:
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Pop. within 5km:
5
Pop. within 10km:
5
Pop. within 30km:
5
Pop. within 100km:
190290
Latitude:
-37.52
Longitude:
177.18
Details
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The uninhabited Whakaari/White Island is the 2 x 2.4 km emergent summit of a 16 x 18 km submarine volcano in the Bay of Plenty about 50 km offshore of North Island. The island consists of two overlapping andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes. The SE side of the crater is open at sea level, with the recent activity centered about 1 km from the shore close to the rear crater wall. Volckner Rocks, sea stacks that are remnants of a lava dome, lie 5 km NW. Descriptions of volcanism since 1826 have included intermittent moderate phreatic, phreatomagmatic, and Strombolian eruptions; activity there also forms a prominent part of Maori legends. The formation of many new vents during the 19th and 20th centuries caused rapid changes in crater floor topography. Collapse of the crater wall in 1914 produced a debris avalanche that buried buildings and workers at a sulfur-mining project. Explosive activity in December 2019 took place while tourists were present, resulting in many fatalities. The official government name Whakaari/White Island is a combination of the full Maori name of Te Puia o Whakaari ("The Dramatic Volcano") and White Island (referencing the constant steam plume) given by Captain James Cook in 1769.
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Eruption Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
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Emissions Data from the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution
Sorry. No emissions data found for this volcano.
Data from the Earthchem Library
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Data from the Earthchem Portal
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Data from the SESAR Database
Sorry. No data exist for this volcano in the SESAR database.
Data from the MaGa Database
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Data from UNAVCO
Sorry. No data exist for this volcano in the UNAVCO database.
Data from USIEI
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Data from IRIS FDSNWS
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