Bayonnaise Rocks

An explosion from the Bayonnaise Rocks submarine volcano in Japan's central Izu Islands breaches the sea surface on September 23, 1952. These cockscomb-like projections of blocks and ash are characteristic of shallow submarine explosions. This photo was taken 5 seconds after the explosion penetrated the sea surface. Five minutes later the eruption was over and the sea was again calm. The suddeness of these powerful explosions proved to be fatal to 31 persons on a research vessel that sailed over the vent the following day.

Bayonnaise Rocks

Steam pours from the blocky summit of a lava dome formed at Myojinsho during a submarine eruption at the Bayonnaise Rocks volcano in 1952. This September 22 photo was taken six days after the dome began to breach the sea surface. Later that day the eruption became highly explosive, and the dome was destroyed. Three cycles of dome growth and destruction occurred until October 1953. Myojinsho is located on the eastern rim of a 7-9 km wide submarine caldera.

Kavachi

A burst of incandescent magma rises above the sea surface at Kavachi volcano in the Solomon Islands. By the time of this June 30, 1978 photo, the vent of the submarine volcano had reached the sea surface. Dark blocks of extruded lava can be seen through the clouds of steam. No sign of the submarine volcano had been observed on June 20, but the following day an eruption was seen. By the 22nd, a 30-50 m wide island was observed, from which incandescent lava was emerging. Vapor and ash rose a few thousand meters into the air.

Kavachi

A spectacular shallow-water phreatomagmatic, or surtseyan eruption from Kavachi volcano is observed from a small boat on July 17 or 18, 1977. Sprays of dark ash can be seen emerging from white vapor clouds. Numerous individual blocks ejected at high velocity are trailed by clouds of steam. Similar activity was observed from boats and airplanes for a period of less than one week.

Krakatau

A dark, ash-laden cloud is ejected from a submarine vent at Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) on June 12, 1930. A white steam column rises above a pyroclastic-surge that travels horizontally along the sea surface in a radial direction from the vent. Base surges such as these are a common phenomenon of submarine eruptions. The first eruptions of Anak Krakatau to breach the surface were seen in December 1927.

Nishino-shima

A submarine explosion from Nishino-shima breaches the surface on October 9, 1973. Steam trails behind individual ejected hot blocks at the margin of the plume. Submarine eruptions began on April 12, 1973. On September 11 a new island was first seen. Lava flows began in September, and three new islands were formed, which joined together during October-November 1973 forming Nishino-shima-shinto. The new island itself was connected to the pre-existing Nishino-shima Island by wave activity after the eruption ended.