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.

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

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Bani P, Oppenheimer C, Tsanev V I, Carn S A, Cronin S J, Crimp R, Calkins J A, Charley D, Lardy M, Roberts T R, 2009. Surge in sulphur and halogen degassing from Ambrym volcano, Vanuatu. {Bull Volc}, 71: 1159-1168

Carniel R, Di Cecca M, Rouland D, 2003. Ambrym, Vanuatu (July-August 2000): spectral and dynamical transitions on the hours-to-days timescale. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 128: 1-13

Eissen J-P, Blot C, Louat R, 1991. Chronologie de l'activite volcanique historique de l'arc insulaire des Nouvelles-Hebrides de 1595 a 1991. {ORSTOM Rapports Sci Tech Sci Terre Geol-Geophys}, 2: 1-69

Eissen J-P, Monzier M, Robin C, Picard C, Douglas C, 1990. Report on the volcanological field work on Ambrym and Tanna Islands (Vanuatu) from 2 to 25 September 1990. {Orstom (Noumea) Rapport Missions Sci Terre Geol-Geophys}, 22: 1-22

Fisher N H, 1957. Melanesia. {Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields}, Rome: IAVCEI, 5: 1-105

Green J, Short N M, 1971. {Volcanic Landforms and Surface Features: a Photographic Atlas and Glossary}. New York: Springer-Verlag, 519 p

Gregory J W, 1917. The Ambrym eruptions of 1913-14. {Geol Mag}, 4: 529-540

McCall G J H, LeMaitre R W, Malahoff A, Robinson G P, Stephenson P J, 1970. The geology and geophysics of the Ambrym Caldera, New Hebrides. {Bull Volc}, 34: 681-696

Monzier M, Danyushevsky L V, Crawford A J, Bellon H, Cotton J, 1993. High-Mg andesites from the southern termination of the New Hebrides island arc (SW Pacific). {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 57: 193-217

New Hebrides Geological Survey, 1976. Geology of Pentecost and Ambrym. {New Hebrides Geol Surv}, 1:100,000 geol map sheet 6

Robin C, Eissen J-P, Monzier M, 1993. Giant tuff cone and 12-km-wide associated caldera at Ambrym volcano (Vanuatu, New Hebrides arc). {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 55: 225-238

Smithsonian Institution-SEAN, 1975-89. [Monthly event reports]. {Bull Scientific Event Alert Network (SEAN)}, v 1-14

Stephenson P J, McCall G J H, LeMaitre R W, Robinson G P, 1968. The Ambrym Island Research Project. {New Hebrides Geol Surv Ann Rpt 1966}, p 9-15

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.