New island in japan

November 15, 2023

Recently, a new island emerged near Japan’s Ogasawara island chain.
- The Ogasawara island chain, also known as the Bonin Islands, constitutes a volcanic arc comprising over 30 islands and islets, some of which remain volcanically active.
An unnamed undersea volcano recently erupted about half a mile off the southern coast of Iwo Jima. Just 10 days later, there was enough debris on the shallow seabed to allow a new island—formed of volcanic ash and splintered rocks—to poke 66 feet above the ocean’s surface.
The island is about 100 meters in diameter, standing 20 meters above the sea less than a mile off Iwo Jima island.
The island took shape through phreatomagmatic eruptions.
The term “phreatomagmatic” combines “phreatic,” relating to water, and “magmatic,” referring to magma.
These eruptions are actually triggered when magma reacts with seawater, thereby resulting in explosive releases of ash and steam.