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Earth’s Most Active Volcanoes: From Kilauea to Fuego

Matrika Shukla — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:00:20 +0000

Our planet is adorned with majestic volcanic peaks that forcibly remind us of the raw, untamed power percolating beneath the surface. While many of Earth’s volcanoes currently lie dormant, others demonstrate a particularly fiery restlessness through frequent eruptions. Let’s take a look at 10 of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Kīlauea, Hawaii

Topping the list is Kīlauea, one of the youngest and most active volcanoes on the Hawaiian islands. This broad shield volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983, with slow-moving lava flows frequently adding new land mass as the molten rock oozes into the Pacific Ocean. Part of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea holds deep significance in native Hawaiian traditions and mythology.

Mount Etna, Italy

At over 10,900 feet, Mount Etna is not only Europe’s highest active volcano but one of the world’s most persistently explosive ones. This iconic stratovolcano on Sicily’s east coast has been frequently erupting for over 3,500 years, with historical records dating back to 1500 BCE. Etna’s 400+ craters and vents are telltale signs of its temperamental activity which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stromboli, Italy

Known as the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” Stromboli has been erupting continuously for over 2,000 years from its island home in the Tyrrhenian Sea. While relatively mild, its frequent explosive eruptions have been visible for seafarers throughout recorded history. In fact, the term “Strombolian eruption” is derived from this volcano’s characteristic explosive bursts of incandescent lava.

Mount Merapi, Indonesia

With its ominous name meaning “Mountain of Fire,” Mount Merapi is one of the most active and hazardous volcanoes in Indonesia. Situated on the densely populated island of Java, this stratovolcano’s frequent eruptions have buried entire villages under deadly clouds of super-heated ash and gas. An important figure in Javanese mythology, Merapi continues to be intensely monitored due to the catastrophic risks it poses to nearby communities.

Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion Island

Like Hawaii’s Kīlauea, Piton de la Fournaise is a shield volcano known for its effusive eruptions producing long lava flows across Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. One of the world’s most active volcanoes, its relatively accessible and spectacular lava displays have made it a major tourist draw, though surrounding areas are still routinely evacuated during heightened volcanic unrest.

Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

While not as perpetually restless as some others on this list, Eyjafjallajökull made global headlines in 2010 when its explosive eruption grounded air travel across Europe for weeks due to its massive ash plume. This glacier-capped volcano has a complex eruptive history often influenced by meltwater interactions that can multiply its explosive force and ash production.

Mount Yasur, Vanuatu

For those seeking to witness the awesome primordial sights and sounds of an actively erupting volcano, look no further than Mount Yasur on Tanna Island in Vanuatu. One of the few permanent lava lakes on Earth, Yasur’s summit crater is easily accessible to visitors. The volcano has been continuously erupting with strombolian bursts for over 800 years in a sacred display deeply woven into the indigenous culture.

Sakurajima, Japan

With a long eruptive record dating back to the 8th century, Sakurajima is one of the most continually active volcanoes in Japan. Located in Kagoshima Prefecture, this former island became connected to the mainland Kyushu through its incessant explosive eruptions that have buried the surrounding landscape under meters of ash through the centuries. Frequent evacuations are required to protect residents from Sakurajima’s relentless ashfalls.

Popocatépetl, Mexico

Also known as “El Popo,” the 17,800-foot Popocatépetl volcano looms over Mexico City and has a history of hazardous explosive eruptions. While periods of quiescence allow surrounding communities a respite, scientists maintain vigilant monitoring of this cultural icon that has deep roots in Aztec mythology and tradition. When Popocatépetl does reactivate, its massive plumes of ash and gas create disruptions over a wide region.

Fuego, Guatemala

Appropriately named “Fuego” meaning fire in Spanish, this Guatemalan stratovolcano is notorious for its frequent high-level eruptions sending plumes of ash, gas and incandescent material high into the atmosphere. Located near the colonial city of Antigua, Fuego is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc and eruptions often trigger life-threatening pyroclastic flows that race down its slopes at horrific speeds. The majestic yet volatile peak stands as a continual reminder of nature’s destructive potential.

From the slow ooze of Hawaiian lava flows to the explosive fury of Central American ash plumes, these persistent volcanic wonders simultaneously inspire awe and fear in their awesome power to create and destroy. While overwhelming forces to behold, modern monitoring helps societies prepare for and mitigate the risks from these blazing natural phenomena.

Unveiling earth’s top 10 largest volcanoes

Matrika Shukla — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:50:49 +0000

Earth is adorned with some of the most beautiful feats of nature – gigantic volcanic peaks that tower miles into the sky. These behemoths have sculpted landscapes, altered climates, and are a reminder of the raw, untamed power brewing beneath the Earth’s surface. Let’s take a look at the 10 largest volcanoes on Earth ranked by their size and volume.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii (33,500 cu km)

Rising over 13,000 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is dwarfed by its 19,700-foot height from base to summit when measured from the ocean floor. This shield volcano is not only the highest point in Hawaii but contains about 25% of the entire volcanic landscape mass in the Hawaiian ridge. Mauna Kea last erupted around 4,600 years ago, though it is technically still considered dormant rather than extinct. The volcano’s broad shape is the product of millions of years of fluid basaltic lava flows layered over each other. Its summit hosts some of the world’s most advanced astronomical observatories, providing crystal-clear visibility thanks to its remote location and thin atmospheric conditions.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii (17,000 cu km)

The largest active volcano on our planet, Mauna Loa is known as the “Long Mountain.” Rising 13,679 feet high and comprising over 51% of the Big Island’s area, it has erupted 33 times since its first well-observed eruption in 1843. Though not currently erupting, Mauna Loa is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth in modern history. Its gigantic bulk has been formed by countless fluid basaltic lava flows over hundreds of thousands of years. The volcano’s frequent, non-explosive eruptions have reshaped the Hawaiian landscape while rarely threatening major populations.

Tamu Massif, Northwest Pacific Ocean (12,000 cu km)

Tamu Massif is the largest known single volcano on Earth, with a footprint about as large as the state of New Mexico. Part of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau, this behemoth submarine shield volcano sits nearly 6,500 feet below the ocean’s surface. Tamu Massif was likely formed by relatively quick eruptions of lava flows over just a few million years, as the oceanic tectonic plate passed over a hot spot in the mantle. Its sheer enormity was hidden from human sight for centuries until modern sensing technologies revealed its sprawling submarine presence.

Ojos del Salado, Chile (4,000 cu km)

At 22,615 feet, Ojos del Salado is the highest volcanic summit in the world, forming part of the lofty Andes mountain range on the Argentina/Chile border. This massive stratovolcano is comprised of thick, viscous lava flows from andesitic and dacitic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years. While its youth and vigour have diminished, it is still considered among the world’s highest risks for potential hazards due to its proximity to populated areas and recent signs of unrest. Ojos del Salado features a 6-mile diameter caldera at its summit caused by massive explosive eruptions around 600,000 years ago.

Pico de Orizaba, Mexico (905 cu km)

The tallest mountain in Mexico at nearly 18,500 feet, Pico de Orizaba is a stratovolcano whose rocky peak is glazed by year-round snowfields and glaciers. While currently dormant, it has the potential for explosive future eruptions given its complex geological history. Orizaba’s 9-mile altitude drops host some of Mexico’s only remaining glaciers, as its tropical latitude leaves few areas hospitable for large ice masses. The volcano’s early eruptions formed the giant Ahumada caldera which later eruptions built taller cones inside. Pico de Orizaba last erupted in the 19th century and could become restless in future centuries.

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (888 cu km)

At 19,341 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on Earth. This extinct stratovolcano features multiple remnant volcanic cones and striking glaciers despite its location near the equator. Kilimanjaro began forming over a million years ago through explosive eruptions that built up its initial cone. Though the last major eruptions ceased around 360,000 years ago, residual volcanic activity as recent as 200,000 years ago created the plateau-like Kibo summit area. Kilimanjaro’s famed glaciers are rapidly shrinking due to climate change after gracing its slopes for over 11,000 years.

Mount Meru, Tanzania (300 cu km)

Towering nearly 15,000 feet high with an iconic conical shape, Mount Meru is an active stratovolcano in Tanzania’s Arusha National Park. It last erupted in 1910 and its fertile soils nourish the surrounding grasslands and forests. Meru features a distinct 1,300-foot wide crater punched into its broad summit from historical explosive eruptions. Though dwarfed by its famous neighbour Kilimanjaro, Meru is considered one of the highest-risk volcanoes in Africa due to the potential for future eruptions and proximity to population centres. Its lower slopes are blanketed by a dense tropical forest sustained by its mineralized volcanic ash and soil.

Mount Sangeang Api, Indonesia (195 cu km)

One of the most active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Mount Sangeang Api features two striking crater lakes and periodically erupts with dramatic plumes of ash and volcanic debris raining down on nearby islands. This stratovolcano is formed from alternate layers of solidified ash and lava over hundreds of thousands of years. Its two crater lakes formed when recent eruptions caused structural collapse and trapped water accumulating from rainfall and volcanic vents. Sangeang Api’s volatility forced the evacuation of its island’s residents multiple times over the past few decades.

Kronotsky, Russia (170 cu km)

Kronotsky is a massive shield volcano on Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula. The heavily glaciated edifice was created by numerous prehistoric eruptions, the largest of which are believed to be among the most powerful in recent geological history. Rising over 10,000 feet high, Kronotsky features over 30 overlapping craters and cones dotting its surface, some still steaming from residual volcanic activity. The largest cone at the summit contains a 1.8-mile-wide caldera formed by an explosive eruption around 38,000 years ago that deposited over 6 cubic miles of pumice across the volcanic landscape.

Mount Tambora, Indonesia (150 cu km)

In 1815, Mount Tambora unleashed the largest eruption in recorded history, roughly four times larger than Krakatoa’s disastrous 1883 event. The massive explosion ejected over 36 cubic miles of tephra, killed over 90,000 people, and its aerosol plume of sulfur dioxide lowered global temperatures for several years after, causing widespread famine and death. Tambora’s eruption formed a 4 by 5-mile caldera and drastically reshaped its pre-eruption conical profile into the rocky remnants seen today. Though unlikely to experience another cataclysmic event of the same magnitude, the 9,300-foot volcano remains closely monitored for potential threats.

While these volcanoes are powerful reminders of nature’s might it is important that we only appreciate their majesty from a relatively safe distance.

U.S. warns Pacific islands post presence of Chinese police in Kiribati

Aishi Saha — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:18:40 +0000

The United States has issued a warning to Pacific Islands nations regarding their engagement with Chinese security forces. This cautionary message follows the presence of Chinese police personnel in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati, situated near Hawaii.

Kiribati’s acting police commissioner, Eeri Aritiera, disclosed that uniformed Chinese officers are collaborating with local police in community policing initiatives and a crime database program. This development has raised concerns in Washington, particularly amid the escalating rivalry between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific region.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, expressed apprehension over the deployment of security forces from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Pacific Island countries. The spokesperson emphasised that such actions could potentially exacerbate regional and international tensions, rather than contribute to stability.

Furthermore, Washington voiced its disapproval of China’s efforts to extend its influence through what it termed as “transnational repression efforts,” including the establishment of police stations abroad. The United States underscored its commitment to safeguarding the autonomy of Pacific Island nations and expressed concerns about the implications of security agreements with China.

Kiribati holds strategic importance not only due to its proximity to Hawaii but also because of its vast exclusive economic zone spanning over 3.5 million square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, Kiribati hosts critical infrastructure such as a Japanese satellite tracking station, with China expressing intentions to reconstruct a World War II U.S. military airstrip on Kanton Island, which has raised eyebrows in Washington.

In response to China’s initiatives, the United States announced plans to upgrade the wharf on Kanton Island, coupled with aspirations to establish an embassy in Kiribati. The geopolitical manoeuvring underscores the intensifying competition between major powers for influence and strategic advantage in the Pacific region.

While Kiribati has acknowledged soliciting policing assistance from China in 2022, both Kiribati’s acting police commissioner and a Chinese embassy source denied the existence of a formal Chinese police station in the country. Nonetheless, uniformed Chinese police officers have been operating in Kiribati on a rotational basis, raising questions about the extent of China’s security involvement in the region.

In conclusion, the presence of Chinese police in Kiribati has sparked concerns in Washington, amplifying the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific Islands.

President Biden gives “no comment” as death toll rises in Maui Wildfires Disaster

Avinash Ram — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:15:38 +0000

After taking a sunbath on a beach close to his house in Delaware, President Biden was questioned about the growing death toll in the devastating Maui inferno, the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, and responded with a stony-eyed “no comment.” The commander in chief provided the callous non-response as the death toll reached 96 late on Sunday. Reporter Justin Sink from Bloomberg posted on X, the social media platform that replaced Twitter, that “after a couple hours on the Rehoboth beach, @potus was asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii.”

The White House correspondent, who also shared a picture of Biden, 80, relaxing with a group of people in the distance, stated, “‘No comment,’ he said before leaving for home. With the sad total, which is predicted to increase as hastily conducted search and rescue efforts, the conflagration became Hawaii’s greatest natural tragedy. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, it is also currently the worst US wildfire since 1918, when the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin claimed the lives of 453 people.

When questioned about the tragedy earlier on Sunday while out for a bike ride, Biden responded in a similar cold manner. He stated, “We’re looking into it. Last week, Biden proclaimed a major catastrophe on the Hawaiian island of Maui, promising that the federal response would guarantee that “anyone who’s lost a loved one, or whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately.”

However, the president’s muted answers on Sunday quickly drew criticism, with some drawing comparisons to his handling of the chemical spill that was caused by a train derailing near East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this year. During the Trump administration, Monica Crowley served as the US Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for public affairs. She tweeted, “Biden doesn’t give AF [a f-k] about the suffering people of Maui.” “Or the distressed residents of Ohio’s East Palestine. Or the folks who are in need in border communities. Or the folks who are in need anyplace in America,” she said.

In her unsuccessful 2022 run for governor of Arizona, Republican Kari Lake also criticized the president. “One of the most stunning locations on earth has been turned to cinders. Joe Biden is unconcerned about Delaware, according to him. Get this jerk out of the White House if you want to put America first,” Lake said on X. “While the people of Lahaina, Hawaii dug through the ashes of their shattered community, the president rode his bike to the beach,” the president was quoted as saying. Additionally, she stated that Nero played while Rome burned.

Biden “just got back from a 14-day beach vacation,” according to Stephen Miller, an editor at the conservative website The Spectator. Spent 4 days in DC, is back on the beach, and is silent regarding the wildfires that destroyed entire neighborhoods. Amazing stuff, really. Another enraged commentator compared Biden’s response to the conflict in Ukraine. “Biden, in a nutshell. No remark about East Palestine. Maui: I have nothing to say. Ukraine: send them an additional 24 billion,” the X user wrote. The White House has been contacted by The Post for a response.