Global Volcanism Program

Nasudake

Google Earth Placemark with Features

Cite Volcano Profile

Japan
Northeast Japan Volcanic Arc
Composite | Stratovolcano(es)
1963 CE

Country
Volcanic Region
Landform | Volc Type
Last Known Eruption

37.125°N
139.963°E
1,915 m
6,283 ft
283150

Latitude
Longitude
Summit
Elevation
Volcano
Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: July 1996 (BGVN 21:07) Cite this Report

Seismic activity increases

High seismicity was recorded on 14 July with a total of 14 earthquakes. The Nasu volcano group consists of a N-S cluster of stratovolcanoes and lava domes at the N end of the Kanto plain. Nasu volcanics date back at least 350,000 years. The youngest dome, Chausu-dake, is late Holocene in age and has had several severe explosive eruptions since its first historical eruption in the late 14th century.

Information Contacts: Volcanological Division, Japan Meteorological Agency, 1-3-4 Ote-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan

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

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

03/1977 (NSEB 02:03) Earthquake swarm with felt events

10/1985 (SEAN 10:10) Two earthquake swarms

07/1996 (BGVN 21:07) Seismic activity increases

Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

March 1977 (NSEB 02:03) Cite this Report

Earthquake swarm with felt events

An earthquake swarm including felt shocks occurred on 30-31 January, but no surface phenomena were observed.

Information Contacts: JMA, Tokyo.

October 1985 (SEAN 10:10) Cite this Report

Two earthquake swarms

Local seismic activity increased 9-12 September at the N foot, about 10 km from the summit. Magnitude [3.5] events recorded on 9 and 11 September were felt at intensity I and II at a town 7 km NW of the summit, but were not felt at the JMA Nasudake Volcano Observatory, about 19 km to the SSE.

Another swarm of small earthquakes occurred [27-29 September] at the NE foot, about 10 km from the summit. Three larger events were felt at Kashi hot spring, 7 km NE of the summit, but again none were felt at the JMA Observatory. The JMA seismic network in this area could not accurately determine hypocenters and magnitudes of small events. The largest events of this swarm were estimated to be roughly magnitude 2.7. Earthquake swarms are common around Nasu.

Information Contacts: JMA, Tokyo.

July 1996 (BGVN 21:07) Cite this Report

Seismic activity increases

Information Contacts: Volcanological Division, Japan Meteorological Agency, 1-3-4 Ote-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan

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.

Synonyms

Naso | Nasu-yama | Nasu

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Asahi-dake

Stratovolcano

Futamata-yama

Stratovolcano

Kasshi-Asahi-dake

Stratovolcano

Minami-Gassan

Stratovolcano

Nangetsu-yama

Stratovolcano

1776 m

Sanbonyari

Stratovolcano

1915 m

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Chausu-dake
Tyausu-dake

Dome

1915 m

37° 7' 18" N

139° 57' 58" E

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Nasu-Yumoto Spa

Thermal

800 m

Sessho-ishi
Sessyo-isi

Thermal

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

283150

1963 CE

1,915 m / 6,283 ft

37.125°N
139.963°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano(es)
Lava dome(s)

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Dacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

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

639
5,802
298,717
5,725,203

Geological Summary

The Nasudake volcanic group consists of a N-S-trending cluster of stratovolcanoes and lava domes at the north end of the Kanto Plain. Volcanic activity dates back about 500,000 years. Growth of three large basaltic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes, each lasting about 200,000 years, was followed by construction of three smaller andesitic stratovolcanoes, Asahidake, Futamatayama, and Chausudake. Activity during the last 55,000 years included the collapse of Asahidake volcano about 30-40,000 years ago, producing the massive Ofujisan debris-avalanche deposit, which covers a broad area SE of the volcano. The youngest volcano, Chausudake, began forming about 16,000 years ago. Six magmatic eruptions took place since then, the latest in 1408-1410 CE, when the Chausudake summit lava dome formed. These eruptions produced block-and-ash flows and concluded with the extrusion of lava flows. Smaller phreatic eruptions have occurred every few hundred years during the past 5,000 years.

References

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

Ban M, Yamamoto T, 2002. Petrological study of the Nasu-Chausudake volcano (ca. 16 ka to Present), northeastern Japan. Bull Volcanol, 64: 100-116.

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.

Kudo T, Hoshizumi H, 2006-. Catalog of eruptive events within the last 10,000 years in Japan, database of Japanese active volcanoes. Geol Surv Japan, AIST, https://gbank.gsj.jp/volcano/index_e.htm.

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

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/.

Suzuki T, 1992. Tephrochronological study on Nasu volcano. Bull Volc Soc Japan (Kazan), 37: 251-263 (in Japanese with English abs).

Suzuki T, 1996. Discharge rates of fallout tephra and frequency of plinian eruptions during the last 400,000 years in the southern Northeast Japan arc. Quat Internatl, 34-36: 79-87.

Yamamoto T, 1997. Eruptive history of Nasu-Chausudake volcano, NE Japan, based on tephrostratigraphy. J Geol Soc Japan, 103: 676-691 (in Japanese with English abs).

Yamamoto T, Ban M, 1997. Geological map of Nasu volcano. Geol Surv Japan, 1:30,000 geologic map and text.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 20 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1963 Nov 20 - 1963 Nov 21 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake (west side)

1963 Nov 20 - 1963 Nov 21

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake (west side)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	weak or small
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1963 Nov 20	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1963 Jul 10 - 1963 Jul 11 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1963 Jul 10 - 1963 Jul 11

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	Uncertain
	1963 Jul 10	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1960 Oct 10 (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake (50 m north of 1953 vent)

1960 Oct 10 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake (50 m north of 1953 vent)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Crater	Summit.
1960 Oct 10 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1953 Oct 24 - 1953 Oct 29 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake (1881 crater)

1953 Oct 24 - 1953 Oct 29

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake (1881 crater)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1953 Oct 24	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1881 Jul 1 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake (west and NW side of summit)

1881 Jul 1 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 8 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake (west and NW side of summit)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Bombs
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1881 Jul 1	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)
1919 Jul 6	- - - -	Fatalities
1921 Nov 26	- - - -	Fatalities

1846 Aug Confirmed Eruption VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1846 Aug - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1846 Aug	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1410 Mar 5 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1410 Mar 5 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 10 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
- - - -	- - - -	Fauna Kill	Terrestrial.
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1410 Mar 5	- - - -	Fatalities
1410 Mar 5	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1408 Feb 24 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, CH6 tephra

1408 Feb 24 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, CH6 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
1408 Feb 24	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1404 Feb 11 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1404 Feb 11 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1404 Feb 11	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1397 Feb 17 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1397 Feb 17 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1397 Feb 17	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0330 ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, Ns-7 to 5 tephras

0330 ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, Ns-7 to 5 tephras

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
0330 ± 200 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0250 ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, Ns-8 tephra

0250 ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, Ns-8 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
0250 ± 200 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0250 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, Ns-12 to 9 tephras

0250 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, Ns-12 to 9 tephras

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	0250 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0700 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, CH5 tephra

0700 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, CH5 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
0700 BCE ± 200 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1440 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

1440 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	1440 BCE ± 500 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2000 BCE ± 1450 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

2000 BCE ± 1450 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	2000 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

4350 BCE ± 950 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

4350 BCE ± 950 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	4350 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

5550 BCE ± 500 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, CH4 tephra

5550 BCE ± 500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, CH4 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
5550 BCE ± 500 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

6050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

6050 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	6050 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

7850 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake, CH3 tephra

7850 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake, CH3 tephra

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Blocks
7850 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

8550 BCE ± 1500 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

Chausu-dake

8550 BCE ± 1500 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Chausu-dake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	8550 BCE ± 1000 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Deformation History

There is data available for 1 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.

Deformation during 2011 Mar 11 - 2011 Mar 11 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 2011 Mar 11

Stop Date: 2011 Mar 11

Direction: Subsidence

Method: InSAR

Magnitude: 5.000 cm

Spatial Extent: 15.00 km

Latitude: 37.000

Longitude: 140.000

Remarks: Subsidence of plutonic bodies triggered by Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake

Close-up interferograms. Blue squares indicate geothermal power plants. GEONET stations are indicated by numbered circles, with the colour inside indicating the GPS displacements in the LOS direction.

From: Takada and Fukushima 2013.

Reference List: Takada and Fukushima 2013; Ozawa and Fujita 2013.

Full References:

Ozawa T, Fujita E, 2013. Local deformations around volcanoes associated with the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. J. Geophys. Res., 118, 390-405. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB009129

Takada and Fukushima, 2013. Volcanic subsidence triggered by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Nature Geoscience, 6: 637-641.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Nasudake.

Photo Gallery

A line of hikers at the lower left walk along a trail below the summit of Chausudake, the active cone of the Nasudake volcanic complex. This volcano group consists of a N-S-trending cluster of cones and lava domes at the N end of the Kanto Plain. Chausudake is a young cone that formed about 16,000 years ago. Six eruptions took place in 1408-1410 CE, when the youngest summit lava dome formed; additional smaller phreatic eruptions have occurred since then.

Photo by Yukio Hayakawa, 1994 (Gunma University).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Nasudake 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 Nasudake. 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 Nasudake. 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 Nasudake

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).