46 Volcanoes Are in Continuous Eruptive State but Experts Dispel Fears

Dozens of volcanoes are erupting at the same time all over the world. However, the public should not worry about it.

Nearly 50 Volcanoes in Eruptive State

Every Wednesday night, the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution updates the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report by tracking the status of active eruptions. Nineteen volcanoes are erupting, according to the most recent data. To be included in the weekly report, a volcano has to fulfill several requirements, including igniting an ash advisory, undergoing new activity, changing its action, or displaying a shift in alert level.

Over a dozen volcanoes that have shown constant eruptive activity for decades or more are not included in the report. Therefore, it does not include all volcanic activity.

The Smithsonian Institution reports that at least 46 volcanoes continuously erupt. However, many haven't changed over the past week, so they weren't included in the institute's Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.

Only one of the volcanic eruptions is labeled as new this week, contrasting to the three listed as new in the previous edition. The Reykjanes-Svartsengi volcano, which is close to the Fagradalsfjall fissure in Iceland, has been added to the list.

The three volcanoes added last week were the ones in Kamchatka, Russia; Grindavík, Iceland; and Iwo Jima, Japan. This week's Weekly Activity Report did not include the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, or the volcano Iwo Jima since they did not match the required requirements.

The Icelandic volcano has shown multiple symptoms of instability, including thousands of earthquakes and the sinking of a large area of land in Grinadvík, which indicates that magma is approaching the volcano ahead of an eruption. It was included in the Smithsonian Institution's weekly list this week due to its change in activity.

Despite the dozens of eruptions worldwide, one should not worry, according to an expert. It is normal because between 40 to 50 volcanic eruptions happen yearly.

"The number of volcanoes erupting right now is normal," Global Volcanism Program Director Ben Andrews said. "There are currently 46 ongoing eruptions, and over the past 30 years, there have generally been about 40-50 eruptions happening at any given time. Since 1991, there have been between 56 and 88 eruptions each year; 67 eruptions have happened thus far this year, and there were 85 in 2022."

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Japan's Undersea Volcanic Eruption Gives Birth To New Island

Volcanic eruptions could lead to the formation of new islands. This was the case when an undersea volcano about 1 kilometer off the southern coast of Iwo Jima in Tokyo, Japan, erupted in October. The volcanic activity paved the way for forming a new island about 100 meters (328 feet) in diameter and 20 meters (66 feet) high.

However, an expert didn't think the island would survive because when the volcanic activity ceased, the island also showed signs of shrinking.

According to Yuji Usui, an analyst in the Japan Meteorological Agency's volcanic division, the newly formed island lacks a strong foundation, so waves can easily wash it away. It could have survived longer if it had been made from lava or volcanic rocks like pumice.