Ambrym

Google Earth Placemark
  • Vanuatu
  • Vanuatu
  • Pyroclastic shield
  • 2011
  • Country
  • Subregion Name
  • Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 1334 m
    4376 ft
  • -16.250°
  • 168.120°
  • Elevation
  •  
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

20 July-26 July 2011

Based on pilot observations and analyses of satellite imagery, the Wellington VAAC reported that on 19 July an ash plume from Ambrym rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 185 km NW.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)



 Available Weekly Reports




2011: June | July |
2010: March | August |
2009: March | December |
2007: March | April | May |
2004: March |


20 July 2011              Back to Top

Based on pilot observations and analyses of satellite imagery, the Wellington VAAC reported that on 19 July an ash plume from Ambrym rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 185 km NW.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


22 June 2011              Back to Top

On 27 June, the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory reported that data collected from Ambrym's monitoring network showed significant degassing daily and occasional explosions in the crater. Field observers noted that the level of the lava lakes was high. During June, villages reported minor ashfall and that acid rain affected vegetables in some areas W, S, and E. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 0-4).

Sources: Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory


18 August 2010              Back to Top

Based on pilot observations, analyses of satellite imagery, and information from the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory, the Wellington VAAC reported that on 8 and 10 August ash-and-steam plumes from Ambrym rose to an altitude 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W and NW.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


3 March 2010              Back to Top

Based on pilot observations and analyses of satellite imagery, the Wellington VAAC reported that ash plumes from Ambrym rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. on 5 March.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


2 December 2009              Back to Top

On 3 December, a diffuse plume from Ambrym, likely largely composed of sulfur dioxide, was visible on satellite imagery acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and posted on NASA's Earth Observatory website.

Sources: NASA Earth Observatory


25 March 2009              Back to Top

Based on information from the Port Vila airport tower, the Wellington VAAC reported that on 25 March an ash plume from Ambrym rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted about 55 km S. The next day, a pilot reported that "smoke" rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash was not identified on satellite imagery.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


2 May 2007              Back to Top

The Wellington VAAC reported that a pilot observed an ash plume from Ambrym on 3 May. The plume rose to an altitude of 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Ash was visible on satellite imagery.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


25 April 2007              Back to Top

The Wellington VAAC reported that an ash plume from Ambrym was visible on satellite imagery on 1 May. The altitude and direction of the plume were not reported.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


28 March 2007              Back to Top

The Wellington VAAC reported that on 3 April pilots observed lava and ash emissions from Ambrym. Ash plumes rose to altitudes below 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l.

Sources: Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


31 March 2004              Back to Top

According to a report from John Seach, during March an active lava lake was present in Ambrym's Mbwelesu crater.

Sources: Volcano Live




Summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

Start Date Stop Date Eruption Certainty VEI Evidence Activity Area or Unit
2008 May 23 2011 (continuing) Confirmed 1 Historical Benbow and Marum
2006 Nov 8 2007 Dec 27 (in or after) Confirmed 1 Historical Marum (Mbwelesu)
1996 Jun (in or before) 2005 Aug (in or after) Confirmed 1 Historical Benbow, Marum, Niri Mbelesu, Mbwelesu
1994 Dec (in or before) Unknown Confirmed 1 Historical Benbow and Marum
1990 Sep (in or before) 1991 Jul (in or after) Confirmed 2 Historical Mbwelesu, Niri Mbwelesu, Niri Taten
1989 Apr 24 1989 Dec 23 Confirmed 2 Historical Marum, Benbow, Niri Mbwelesu Taten
1988 Feb 12 (?) 1988 Aug 23 Confirmed 3 Historical Benbow, Mbwelesu, Marum, Niri Taten
1986 Nov 13 1986 Nov 19 (?) Confirmed 2 Historical New cone 3 km east of Marum
1984 1986 Mar 8 (in or after) Confirmed 2 Historical
1983 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Marum
1981 Feb 20 1981 Sep 30 Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Marum
1980 May 16 1980 Aug 18 Confirmed 2 Historical Marum
1979 Jun 6 1979 Sep (?) Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Marum
1979 Jan 26 ± 5 days 1979 Feb 18 (?) Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow
1977 Aug 1977 Sep 30 Confirmed 2 Historical
1977 Jan 20 ± 5 days 1977 Jan 28 (?) Confirmed 2 Historical
1973 Apr 15 ± 5 days 1976 Oct 14 Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Mbuelesu, Marum
1972 Apr 15 1972 Aug 15 Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Marum
1971 Feb 3 1971 Nov 5 Confirmed 2 Historical Marum, Benbow
1967 Jul 1970 Aug 29 Confirmed 2 Historical Marum, Benbow, Mbuelesu
1964 Feb (?) 1966 Sep (in or after) Confirmed 2 Historical Marum, Benbow
1963 Aug 30 1963 Sep 23 (in or after) Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Marum
1961 Aug 15 1963 Apr 3 Confirmed 1 Historical Benbow, Marum, south of Marum
1960 Sep 17 Unknown Confirmed 1 Historical Mbuelesu, Benbow, near Marum
1959 Apr Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Marum
1958 Nov 18 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow and Marum
1957 Aug 26 ± 5 days 1957 Oct Confirmed 1 Historical Benbow, Marum
1955 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow
1954 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow
1953 May 1953 Oct 13 (?) Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Mbuelesu, S flank of Benbow
1952 Aug 10 1952 Dec 26 ± 5 days Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow
1950 Dec 6 1951 Nov 25 ± 5 days Confirmed 3 Historical Benbow
1942 Jun 6 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical NW flank of Benbow
1938 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, Marum ?
1937 Mar 27 1937 Apr Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow and west flank
1935 Sep 1936 Jan Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow
1929 Jun 28 1929 Jul 1 Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, west flank, Marum
1915 Oct 20 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Marum, crater at SE point
1913 Oct 14 1914 Confirmed 2 Historical Benbow, west flank, Marum
1912 Unknown Confirmed   Historical Marum ?, west flank ?
1910 Unknown Confirmed 0 Historical Base of Marum
1909 Jul 28 (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1908 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1898 Mar 26 Unknown Confirmed 1 Historical
1894 Oct 15 1895 Feb 10 (in or after) Confirmed 3 Historical Benbow and west flank
1888 Feb 24 ± 4 days 1888 Apr (?) Confirmed 2 Historical SE flank (6 km from SE Point), Marum
1886 Jul Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1884 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Marum and/or Benbow
1883 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical Marum
1871 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
[ 1870 ] [ Unknown ] Uncertain    
1863 1864 Confirmed 2 Historical
1820 (?) Unknown Confirmed   Historical West flank
1774 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
50 ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 6 Radiocarbon (uncorrected)

Ambrym, a large basaltic volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera, is one of the most active volcanoes of the New Hebrides arc. A thick, almost exclusively pyroclastic sequence, initially dacitic, then basaltic, overlies lava flows of a pre-caldera shield volcano. The caldera was formed during a major plinian eruption with dacitic pyroclastic flows about 1900 years ago. Post-caldera eruptions, primarily from Marum and Benbow cones, have partially filled the caldera floor and produced lava flows that ponded on the caldera floor or overflowed through gaps in the caldera rim. Post-caldera eruptions have also formed a series of scoria cones and maars along a fissure system oriented ENE-WSW. Eruptions have apparently occurred almost yearly during historical time from cones within the caldera or from flank vents. However, from 1850 to 1950, reporting was mostly limited to extra-caldera eruptions that would have affected local populations.