Global Volcanism Program

Ata

Google Earth Placemark with Features

Cite Volcano Profile

Japan
Ryukyu Volcanic Arc
Caldera | Caldera(s)
885 CE

Country
Volcanic Region
Landform | Volc Type
Last Known Eruption

31.22°N
130.57°E
924 m
3,031 ft
282070

Latitude
Longitude
Summit
Elevation
Volcano
Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Ata.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Ata.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Ata.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Ibusuki Volcanic Field

Volcanic field

Kaimondake
    Satuma-Huzi
    Satsuma-Fuji
    Haimon-dake
    Hirakiki-dake
    Sho-Fuji
    Tsukushi-Fuji
    Kaibun
    Utsubo-shima

Stratovolcano

908 m

31° 10' 48" N

130° 31' 41" E

Karayama

Stratovolcano

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Ata

Pleistocene caldera

31° 20' 0" N

130° 40' 0" E

Ikeda

Caldera

64 m

31° 14' 5" N

130° 33' 50" E

Ikezoko

Maar

Matsugakubo

Maar

Mizunashi

Maar

Narikawa

Maar

Unagi

Maar

Yamagawa
Yamakawa

Maar

3 m

31° 12' 36" N

130° 38' 12" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Ishimine

Dome

Kasegadake

Dome

Kiyomidake

Dome

Nabeshimadake

Dome

Sendayama

Dome

Takeyama

Dome

Tsujinodake

Dome

Washiodake

Dome

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

282070

885 CE

924 m / 3,031 ft

31.22°N
130.57°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Caldera

Volcano Types
Caldera(s)
Volcanic field
Stratovolcano(es)
Lava dome(s)
Maar(s)

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Rhyolite
Dacite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

93,134
93,134
171,590
1,891,380

Geological Summary

The submerged 15 x 25 km Ata caldera under Kagoshima Bay is one of several large calderas in southern Kyushu and the source of major pyroclastic flows associated with its formation more than 40,000 years ago. The National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of Japan (JMA, 2013) included features of the Ibusuki field as part of the Ata post-caldera system. That area consists of numerous central cones and maars, the 4.5-km-wide Ikeda caldera, and Kaimondake stratovolcano. The symmetrical andesitic Kaimondake is the most prominent feature, and is capped by a lava dome. Ibusuki has been very active during the Holocene, forming the Ikeda caldera about 4,600 years ago, numerous maars and lava domes. Kaimondake formed during the last 4,000 years, from which all eruptive activity has occurred after about 2,650 years ago. Its last eruption took place in the 9th century. While listed as features of the Ata caldera, JMA (2013) simultaneously listed Kaimondake and the combination of Ikeda and Yamagawa as distinct volcanoes.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 1996. National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (second edition). Tokyo: Japan Meteorological Agency, 502 p (in Japanese).

Japan Meteorological Agency, 2013. National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (fourth edition, English version). Japan Meteorological Agency.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 1975. National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan. Tokyo: Japan Meteorological Agency, 119 p (in Japanese).

Katsui Y (ed), 1971. List of the World Active Volcanoes. Volc Soc Japan draft ms, (limited circulation), 160 p.

Kuno H, 1962. Japan, Taiwan and Marianas. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 11: 1-332.

Nakamura M, 1980. Possibility of new volcanic activity at Ibusuki volcanic field, Kyushu, Japan. Bull Volc Soc Japan (Kazan), 25: 195-205 (in Japanese with English abs).

Nakano S, Yamamoto T, Iwaya T, Itoh J, Takada A, 2001-. Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan. Geol Surv Japan, AIST, http://www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/strata/VOL_JP/.

Sumi K, Takashima I, 1976. Absolute ages of the hydrothermal alteration halos and associated volcanic rocks in some Japanese geothermal fields. In: Proc 2nd United Nations Symp Devel Use Geotherm Resour, San Francisco, 1: 625-634.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 23 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1615 Aug 7 (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

1615 Aug 7 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	- - - -	- - - -	Ash	Uncertain

0885 Aug 29 - 0885 Sep 28 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0885 Aug 29 - 0885 Sep 28

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
0885 Aug 29	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 0882 Nov ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0882 Nov - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	0882 Nov	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0874 Mar 29 - 0874 Jul (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0874 Mar 29 - 0874 Jul (?)

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Fauna Kill	Aquatic.
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
0874 Mar 29	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 0866 May ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0866 May - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	0866 May	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 0860 Apr ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0860 Apr - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	0860 Apr	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0770 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-beta

0770 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-beta

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
0770 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0720 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-gamma

0720 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-gamma

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
0720 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0660 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon

0660 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
0660 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0600 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-delta

0600 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-delta

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0600 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0550 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-epsilon

0550 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-epsilon

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0550 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0270 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-zeta

0270 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-zeta

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
0270 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0150 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-eta

0150 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-eta

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0150 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0130 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-theta

0130 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-theta

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0130 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0030 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-iota

0030 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-iota

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
0030 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0080 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-kappa

0080 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-kappa

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0080 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0270 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-lamda

0270 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-lamda

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0270 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0650 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-mu

0650 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-mu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0650 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0700 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-nu

0700 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-nu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0700 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1450 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Mizunashi, Kagami, Ikezoko maars

1450 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Mizunashi, Kagami, Ikezoko maars

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion

1500 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-xi

1500 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-xi

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1500 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Nabeshima-dake

1550 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Nabeshima-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava dome

1610 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-omicron

1610 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-omicron

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
1610 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1780 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra set Km-pi

1780 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra set Km-pi

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lapilli
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
1780 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2010 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption

Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-rho

2010 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Kaimon, Tephra layer Km-rho

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
- - - -	- - - -	Evacuations
2010 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2690 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption

Ikeda-ko caldera, Tephra layer Ikp

2690 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at Ikeda-ko caldera, Tephra layer Ikp

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
- - - -	- - - -	Bombs
- - - -	- - - -	Caldera	Explosion
2690 BCE ± 75 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

5050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Unagi, Narikawa and Yamakawa maars

5050 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Unagi, Narikawa and Yamakawa maars

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Ata.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Ata.

Photo Gallery

Weathering of volcanic ash releases nutrients that contribute to fertile soils for agriculture, such as these fields at the foot of Kaimon volcano in southern Kyushu. Because of this, population density is often high near volcanoes and results in communities developing in increasingly hazardous areas. Volcanic soils support crops such as rice fields in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan, sugar cane in Hawaii and Central America, and vineyards in Italy.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).

Kaimon volcano is the youngest and most prominent feature of the Ibusuki volcanic field at the southern tip of Kyushu, seen here from the N. It was constructed during the last 4,000 years and has been the source of historical eruptions in the volcanic field. The Ibusuki field is located W of the Pleistocene Ata caldera and contains numerous small cones, maars, and the 4.5-km-wide Ikedoko caldera.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).

Ikedako is a 4.5-km-wide lake-filled caldera that was formed as a result of a major explosive eruption about 4,600 years ago. Kaimon is the highest peak of the Ibusuki volcanic field, rising to the SW above the caldera rim. The eruption of the 3 km³ Ikeda pumice was the the largest Holocene eruption in the Ibusuki volcanic field, which consists of a group of small central volcanoes and maars, along with Ikedako caldera and Kaimon.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Ata in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Ata. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Ata. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Ata

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).