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Erebus

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  • Country
  • Subregion Name
  • Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 3794 m
    12444 ft
  • -77.530°
  • 167.170°
  • Elevation
  •  
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

12 October-18 October 2005

According to the Mt. Erebus activity log, several "small- to medium-sized" eruptions occurred during 12-18 October, with a "very large" eruption occurring on 14 October. The eruption sizes were based on comparisons of seismic data for known Erebus eruptions.

Sources: Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory



 Available Weekly Reports




2005: October |
2001: May | November |

12 October 2005              Back to Top

According to the Mt. Erebus activity log, several "small- to medium-sized" eruptions occurred during 12-18 October, with a "very large" eruption occurring on 14 October. The eruption sizes were based on comparisons of seismic data for known Erebus eruptions.

Sources: Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory

21 November 2001              Back to Top

As of 23 November, frequent Strombolian eruptions (~1-10 per day) occurred from a persistent ~15-m-diameter summit lava lake at Erebus. In addition, infrequent small ash eruptions took place at a vent adjacent to the lava lake.

Sources: Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory

9 May 2001              Back to Top

Geologic Summary. Mount Erebus, the world's southernmost historically active volcano, overlooks the McMurdo research station on Ross Island. The 3,794-m-high Erebus is the largest of three major volcanoes forming the crudely triangular Ross Island. The summit of Mount Erebus has been modified by several generations of caldera formation. A summit plateau at about 3,200 m altitude marks the rim of the youngest caldera, within which the modern cone was constructed. An elliptical 500 x 600 m wide, 110-m-deep crater truncates the summit and contains an active lava lake within a 250-m-wide, 100-m-deep inner crater. The glacier-covered volcano was erupting when first sighted by Captain James Ross in 1841. Continuous lava-lake activity has been documented since 1972, punctuated by occasional Strombolian explosions that eject bombs onto the crater rim.

Sources: Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory



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

Start Date Stop Date Eruption Certainty VEI Evidence Activity Area or Unit
1972 Dec (in or before) 2011 (continuing) Confirmed 2 Historical
1972 Jan 3 (?) Unknown Confirmed 1 Historical
1963 Nov (in or before) Unknown Confirmed 0 Historical
[ 1957 ] [ 1958 ] Uncertain    
1955 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1947 Feb Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1915 Aug Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1915 Mar 22 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1912 Dec 12 Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1911 Oct Unknown Confirmed 2 Historical
1911 Apr 1911 Jun Confirmed 2 Historical
1908 Mar 1908 Nov Confirmed 2 Historical
1903 Jan 1 ± 730 days Unknown Confirmed 0 Historical
[ 1900 Feb ] [ Unknown ] Uncertain 2  
1841 Jan 28 (?) 1841 Feb Confirmed 1 Historical
950 ± 1000 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Ar/Ar Northwest lava flow
2050 BCE ± 1000 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Ar/Ar Western Crater (Upper Ice Tower flow)
2950 BCE ± 300 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Surface Exposure North flank (Lower Hut lava flow)
4050 BCE ± 500 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Surface Exposure Lower Ice Tower Ridge, S lava flows
4550 BCE ± 500 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Surface Exposure NE flank
7050 BCE ± 1000 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Ar/Ar NW flank, Tramway lava flow
8050 BCE ± 1000 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Ar/Ar NNW flank, Nausea Knob lava flow

Mount Erebus, the world's southernmost historically active volcano, overlooks the McMurdo research station on Ross Island. The 3794-m-high Erebus is the largest of three major volcanoes forming the crudely triangular Ross Island. The summit of the dominantly phonolitic Mount Erebus has been modified by one or two generations of caldera formation. A summit plateau at about 3200-m altitude marks the rim of the youngest caldera, which formed during the late-Pleistocene and within which the modern cone was constructed. An elliptical 500 x 600 m wide, 110-m-deep crater truncates the summit and contains an active lava lake within a 250-m-wide, 100-m-deep inner crater. The glacier-covered volcano was erupting when first sighted by Captain James Ross in 1841. Continuous lava-lake activity with minor explosions, punctuated by occasional larger strombolian explosions that eject bombs onto the crater rim, has been documented since 1972, but has probably been occurring for much of the volcano's recent history.