Volcanoes of Atlantic Ocean (28)

Cabo Verde (5 volcanoes)

Brava | Fogo | Santo Antao | Sao Nicolau | Sao Vicente

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Atlantic Ocean

In historic times, at least 6 volcanoes have been active in Atlantic Ocean, including Fogo, Nightingale Island, and Walvis Ridge at 33°S volcanoes. A total of 22 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1500 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Atlantic Ocean since 1700.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
2014 Nov 23 - 2015 Feb 8	Fogo WSW base of Pico	2	Cape Verde
2014 Nov 23 (eruption 2014 Nov 23 - 2015 Feb 8)	Fogo	0	Cape Verde		moderate	Info
2014 Nov 23: 19 November-25 November 2014. According to news articles an eruption from Fogo's Pico cone inside the Cha Caldera began in the morning on 23 November after increased activity detected in the previous weeks and felt earthquakes by residents the night before. The eruption started at a vent on the WSW base of Pico cone, near or at where explosions originated in 1995, and then rose from multiple vents. The activity was characterized by explosions, lava fountains, and ash emissions. About 700 people evacuated from Chã das Caldeiras and the local airport closed. During the afternoon on 24 November workers removed items from the national park headquarters and by the evening lava had overtaken the building. Lava flows had crossed a main road and taken down communication poles. The Toulouse VAAC noted that a cloud observed in satellite images composed mainly of sulfur dioxide drifted over 220 km NW at an altitude of 9.1 km (30,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash in the cloud was detected at lower altitudes. By 25 November the lava flow was 4 km long. (reference #2432) The eruption continues, but the situation is critical inside the Cha caldera. The northern lava flow branch has started to enter the village of Portela and today destroyed and/or damaged several buildings, including the headquarters of the Fogo Nature Park. The village, located at the northern end of the main road inside the caldera, is at risk of being cut off by lava flows... The eruption's heaviest economic damage is probably the destruction of vinyards in the area. The lava flows threaten the storage cellar with approx. 100,000 liters of wine. (reference #11144) On 23 November 2014, at 10.00 there was a volcanic eruption on the island of Fogo in Cape Verde. In the Cha das Caldeiras region of the island, approximately 5,700 metres of Cha Sao Felipe road had been affected by lava flows, which has resulted in the Bangaeira, Djeu Lorna and Portela communities becoming cut off. Air traffic to and from the island was stopped. All of the people who lived in the crater of the volcano were evacuated by the National Civil Protection Service and Military and sought refuge ... The National Civil Protection Service reported that the lava flows had destroyed 230 buildings including homes and public infrastructure. It has also been reported that 444.7 hectares of land had been affected including 120 hectares of agricultural fields and livestock killed. In the Bangaeira and Portela communities, 100% of buildings had been destroyed... As of 6 February 2015, the volcano had not resulted in any loss of lives however, 1,076 people have been displaced of which 944 people are settled in the temporary shelter confinements built by the government in the 1995 volcanic eruption and a public school. (reference #11296) 170 buildings destroyed and 90 buildings damaged (75% of Cha das Caldeiras villages), main road inundated, well head covered. (reference #13732) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #11144 volcanodiscovery.com (2014): Fogo volcano (Cape Verde) eruption update: lava threatens Portela village, airport closed. Published Tuesday Nov 25, 2014 22:39 PM. #11296 reliefweb (2015): Cape Verde: Volcano (Fogo) - Emergency Plan of Action DREF no MDRCV002 Operation update no 2. Published 13 Feb 2015. #13732 Meredith, E.S., Jenkins, S.F., Hayes, J.L. et al. (2022): Damage assessment for the 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flows of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi. Bull Volcanol 84, 65. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-022-01568-2 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2004 Jul 29 - Jul 30	Nightingale Island Submarine SE flank	0	Southern Atlantic Ocean, United Kingdom
2001 Nov 24 - 2002 Mar 16 ±15 d.	Walvis Ridge at 33°S Seamount NW of Wüst seamount	0	Southern Atlantic Ocean
1995 Apr 2 - May 26	Fogo WSW flank of Pico	2	Cape Verde
1995 Apr 2 (eruption 1995 Apr 2 - May 26)	Fogo	2	Cape Verde		light	Info
1995 Apr 2: During the night of 2-3 April, several residents evacuated to the N coast. Once ashfall began, more caldera residents and some people in the eastern villages of Corvo, Achada Grande, Relva, Tintiera, Cova Matinho, Cova Figueira, and Estância Roque also evacuated to the coastal towns of Mosteiros (~9 km N of the summit) or Sao Filipe. Police officials reported that all of the ~1,300 people living within the caldera had managed to get out on foot and had been accounted for by noon on 3 April... Official reports indicated that almost 1,000 persons were sheltered in the Army camps at Sao Filipe, Patim, Achada Furna, and Mosteiros. During the first days of the eruption local authorities, Cape Verde soldiers, and volunteers, helped caldera residents save their belongings. Nobody was killed, and only 20 people needed medical assistance during the evacuation, including children with respiratory problems. Although numbers are uncertain, as many as 5,000 people may have been displaced during this eruption. As of 16 April, Portela residents continued to remove belongings by foot... n the following days the lava flow reached the settlement of Boca de Fonte near the caldera wall ~2 km W of the eruption center, and by 9 April it had destroyed at least 5 houses (possibly 10), the main water reservoir, and several square kilometers of fertile land used to grow coffee, wine grapes, fruits, maize, tapioca, and beans... Since the beginning of the eruption, lava flows have covered ~4.3 km2 of productive land, and preliminary data indicate an erupted volume of 22-35 x 106 m3. Boca de Fonte (population 56) was completely destroyed, and flow-fronts were 300 m from Portela as of 18 May. About 1,000 persons remain in shelters at Army camps in Sao Filipe, Patim, Achada Furna, and Mosteiros. During this eruption nobody was killed, but several needed medical assistance, mainly for respiratory problems due to inhalation of volcanic gas and dust. (reference #2432) 90% of the main villages, Portela and Bangeira destroyed and main road inundated. (reference #13732) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13732 Meredith, E.S., Jenkins, S.F., Hayes, J.L. et al. (2022): Damage assessment for the 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flows of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi. Bull Volcanol 84, 65. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-022-01568-2 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1985 Jan 6 - Jan 9	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (NE flank, 0-200 m)	0	Jan Mayen Island, Norway
1973 Jan 15 ±45 d.	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (NE flank, Skrukkelia)	1	Jan Mayen Island, Norway
1970 Sep 18 - 1972 ?	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (NE & SW flanks, summit)	3	Jan Mayen Island, Norway
1961 Oct 10 - 1962 Mar 15	Tristan da Cunha North flank	2	Southern Atlantic Ocean, United Kingdom
1951 Jun 12 - Aug 21	Fogo Northwest and south caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1909	Fogo	?	Cape Verde
1865 Jul 9	Pico Fracture Zone	?	Northern Atlantic Ocean
1857 Jun 27 - Dec 15	Fogo SSE caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1852 Feb 19 - Mar 30 ?	Fogo NNW caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1851 ±30 y.	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (Kokssletta, NE flank)	?	Jan Mayen Island, Norway
1847 Apr 9 - May 2 ?	Fogo North caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1847 Apr 9 (eruption 1847 Apr 9 - May 2 ?)	Fogo	2	Cape Verde	1-50 (*)		Info
1847 Apr 9: Fatalities possibly caused by volcanogenic earthquake. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1818 Apr	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (Dagnyhaugen, SW flank)	3?	Jan Mayen Island, Norway
1816 Dec 31 ±365 d.	Fogo	?	Cape Verde
1799 Jun 2 - Jun 28	Fogo North caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1785 Jan 24 - Feb 25	Fogo North caldera floor	2	Cape Verde
1769 Apr	Fogo SW side	?	Cape Verde
1500 AD - 1761 ?	Fogo Pico	1	Cape Verde
1732 May 17 - May 18	Jan Mayen Beerenberg (Eggoya, SW flank)	4	Jan Mayen Island, Norway

(*) Estimated numbers

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Atlantic Ocean FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Atlantic Ocean?

The last volcanic eruption in Atlantic Ocean was from Fogo volcano during 2014 - 2015.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Atlantic Ocean?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1500 AD from Fogo volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean erupt?

Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean erupt almost every year. Since the first historically documented eruption 1500 ADin Atlantic Ocean, historic sources have shown nearly continuous volcanic activity: The Global Volcanism Project counts 22 historic eruptions until now, spanning a total of 287 out of 525 years. In other words, a volcano in Atlantic Ocean is active roughly every one in 1.8 years on average. This value is likely underestimated, because the record of historically documented activity is likely inclomplete the further back in time we look.

+How active are the volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean?

Atlantic Ocean is volcanically infrequently active: Since 1900, at least 5 volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean have been active.Since 1900, Atlantic Ocean has had 10 volcanic eruptions from 5 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 15 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Atlantic Ocean has been in eruption in one in 8.4 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Atlantic Ocean was Fogo volcano. Its was active from 2014 until 2015 and ended 10 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Atlantic Ocean?

The largest eruption in Atlantic Ocean in historic times was from Jan Mayen volcano. It occurred in 1732. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Volcano List

Ascensión

(Stratovolcano 858 m / 2,815 ft)

[more info]

Bouvet

(Shield volcano 780 m / 2,559 ft)

[more info]

Gough Island

(Shield 910 m / 2986 ft)

[more info]

Inaccessible Island

(Stratovolcano 563 m / 1847 ft)

[more info]

Jan Mayen

(Stratovolcano 2277 m / 7,470 ft)

[more info]

Martin Vaz

(Stratovolcano 175 m / 574 ft)

[more info]

Nightingale Island

(Stratovolcano 365 m / 1,197 ft)

[more info]

Pico Fracture Zone

(Submarine volcano -4200 m / -13,779 ft)

[more info]

Romanche Fracture Zone

(Submarine volcano -1528? m / - 5,013 ft)

[more info]

Thompson Island

(Submarine volcano? unknown summit elevation)

Thompson Island was a phantom island in the South Atlantic. According to the Global Volcanism Program, it was thought to be located about 70 km (43 mi; 38 nmi) north-northeast of Bouvet Island, a small Norwegian dependency located between South Africa and Antarctica. [more info]

Trindade

(Stratovolcano 600+ m / 1,968 ft)

[more info]

Tristan da Cunha

(Shield volcano 2060 m / 6,758 ft)

[more info]

Unnamed 3.5°S/24.5°W

(Submarine volcano -5300? m / -17,388 ft)

[more info]

Unnamed 39.95°N/25.83°W

(Submarine volcano -2835 m / - 9,301 ft)

A ship captain reported water ebullition and hot fumes at this location in 1856. [more info]

Unnamed 4.20°N/21.45°W

(Submarine volcano -2900? m / - 9,514 ft)

[more info]

Unnamed 49.00°N/34.5°W

(Submarine volcano -1650 m / - 5,413 ft)

[more info]

Unnamed 7.00°N/21.83°W

(Submarine volcano? -1415? m / - 4,642 ft)

[more info]

Walvis Ridge at 33°S

(Submarine volcano -1200 m / -3,937 ft)

[more info]

Brava

(Stratovolcano 900 m / 2,953 ft)

[more info]

Fogo

(Stratovolcano 2829 m / 9,281 ft)

The island of Fogo consists of a single massive stratovolcano that is the most prominent of the Cape Verde Islands. Fogo is the most active volcano in the Cape Verde. [more info]

Santo Antao

(Stratovolcano 1979 m / 6493 ft)

[more info]

Sao Nicolau

(Stratovolcano 1270 m / 4167 ft)

[more info]

Sao Vicente

(Stratovolcano 725 m / 2,379 ft)

[more info]

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Brava volcano (Cape Verde) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 22 November-28 November 2023 (New Activity / Unrest)

According to the Cape Verde National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INMG), seismicity at Brava increased on 30 October and remained elevated. A M 3.6 earthquake was recorded at 1819 on 30 October and was followed by eight more events of similar magnitudes that were felt by residents. A M 4.8 was recorded at 2100 and was followed by a 48-hour-long seismic swarm mostly consisting of low-magnitude events that were unable to be located. ... Read all

Mon, 9 Nov 2020, 09:54