Japan’s geological landscape has been reshaped once again as a new island emerged from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, just 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) south of Tokyo. The powerful undersea volcanic eruption that gave rise to the new island started on October 21 near the historic battleground of Iwo Jima, where American and Japanese forces clashed during World War II.

This new island emerged off the coast within a mere 10 days, as volcanic ash and rocks accumulated on the shallow seabed. The tip of the newly formed island rose above the sea surface, creating a landmass approximately 100 metres (328 feet) in diameter and towering as high as 20 metres (66 feet) above the waterline. This development was confirmed by Yuji Usui, an analyst from the Japan Meteorological Agency’s volcanic division, reported news agency AP.

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Usui added that scientists are closely monitoring the new island’s formation, investigating the composition of the landmass to determine its durability. The island’s survival hinges on whether it is made of lava or more robust materials than volcanic rocks like pumice.

The island is located near another landmass that emerged following an eruption in 2021. The region is used to violent bursts of volcanic eruptions. Japan’s meteorological agency told The Guardian that similar eruptions were detected near Iwoto between July and December of last year, as well as in June of this year.

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This event marks a resurgence of magmatic activity in the region, Fukashi Maeno, an associate professor at Tokyo University’s earthquake research institute told the Kyodo news agency. However, the fate of these newly formed islands remains uncertain, as erosion has caused similar formations in the area to vanish beneath the waves in the past. Islands formed through similar volcanic activities in 1904, 1914 and 1986 eventually vanished because of erosion.

Notably, this eruption differs in its nature from previous occurrences. Professor White, a prominent geologist, explained to the New York Times that the eruption started on the flank of a larger “parent” volcano, partially submerged beneath seawater, with its summit exposed as Iwo Jima. The volcanic activity, characterised by discrete explosions and finger-like jets, demonstrates a complexity not seen in previous events. Red-hot magma pieces and a mix of materials further illustrate the intricacies of this natural phenomenon, he added.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)

First Published:Nov 9, 2023 7:47 PM IST