Volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean is experiencing a ‘growth spurt’

Volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean is experiencing a ‘growth spurt’ – adding nearly 500 feet of land in under a month

  • Nishinoshimay, a volcanic island,  sits some 600 miles south of Tokyo, Japan 
  • Experts observed multiple eruptions since May that have added to its land mass
  • Since June, some 500 feet has been added to the island’s surface
  • Since 2013, the volcanic island has grown at least 12 times its size 

A volcanic island some 600 miles south of Japan is experiencing a ‘vigorous growth spurt.’

Nishinoshima, which first emerged from the sea in the 1970s, has expanded an additional 500 feet from June 19 through July 3.

The Japan Coast Guard note that activity of the young volcano appeared to started late May and by June, ash has detected as high as 27,200 feet that contributed to the expansion.

Nishinoshiman has grown 12 times its initial size since 2015 when it merged with a smaller island created by an underwater volcano.

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A volcanic island some 600 miles south of Japan is experiencing a ‘vigorous growth spurt.’ Nishinoshima, which first emerged from the sea in the 1970s, has expanded an additional 500 feet from June 19 through July 3

For more than a month in 2015 an underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean spewed ash and magma to the surface, and high into the air.

The dramatic build-up created a new island, just off the coast of Tonga, in a region known as the Ring of Fire. The island, called Hunga Tonga, was found to be around 0.6 miles wide and composed mostly of ash.

But due to its weak structure, experts had believed the small island would deteriorate into the water.

However, the small islet merged with Nishinoshima – resulting in the larger island growing 12 times its initial size.

NASA released a satellite image from July 4 that shows heat signature of erupting lava and cooling of the dark plume ash blowing to the north.

NASA released a satellite image from July 4 that shows heat signature of erupting lava and cooling of the dark plume ash blowing to the north.

NASA¿s Aqua satellite acquired the natural-color image above on July 6, when the volcanic plume stretched hundreds of miles to the north and rose several thousand miles into the sky

NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired the natural-color image above on July 6, when the volcanic plume stretched hundreds of miles to the north and rose several thousand miles into the sky

Now, Nishinoshima seems to be more awake and has had multiple eruptions over the past few months that have added land to its surface.

The Japan Coast Guard reported a powerful explosion on July 1 that generated a dense dark ash plume that rose approximately 11,482 feet into the air.

NASA released a satellite image from July 4 that shows heat signature of erupting lava and cooling of the dark plume ash blowing to the north.

Nishinoshima seems to be more awake and has had multiple eruptions over the past few months that have added land to its surface

Nishinoshima seems to be more awake and has had multiple eruptions over the past few months that have added land to its surface

Japan officials say the activity began around late May and on July 3 the volcanic plume rose as high as 15,400 feet and the next day ash was detected at 27,200 feet- the highest plume on record since 2013.

Tokyo Institute of Technology Professor Nogami Kenji told Japan’s NHK news agency that the volcano appears to be the most active now and is being fueled by ‘massive supplies of underground magma.’

According to Japan’s NHK news agency, researchers from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan say the southern part of the island has expanded by almost 500 feet from June 19 to July 3.