An eruption of the underwater Kikai volcano, located off the coast of Japan, could potentially kill up to 100 million people, according to researchers’ forecasts. Recent studies have confirmed that the volcano’s magma reservoir is actively recharging, heightening fears of a possible catastrophic eruption.
Kikai, whose last eruption occurred 7,300 years ago, is known for having caused one of the largest explosions recorded in history. At that time, the volcano expelled enough magma to cover Central Park to a depth of 12 kilometers, forming a large caldera. Now, signs of activity, such as steam release and small earthquakes, have been detected in the area around the caldera.
According to geophysicist Professor Seama Nobukazu from Kobe University, “it is crucial to understand how large amounts of magma can accumulate to predict how giant caldera eruptions occur.” The research revealed that the magma reservoir is being filled with new material, which may indicate a recent injection of magma.
The study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, details that the current reservoir is at an estimated depth of 2.5 to 6 kilometers, similar to the magma depths in Kikai’s previous eruption. Using artificial seismic pulses, researchers mapped the size and shape of the reservoir, confirming its recharging process.
A separate study warns that a new eruption of Kikai could launch enormous amounts of debris into the atmosphere, possibly blocking the sun in some areas and triggering a “volcanic winter.” Tsunamis could also hit southern Japan, as well as the coasts of Taiwan, China, and even the Americas. Although the probability of a giant caldera eruption hitting the Japanese archipelago is only 1% in the next 100 years, the consequences could be devastating.
These events highlight the importance of actively monitoring underwater volcanoes, not only for local safety but also to better understand geological processes that can have global impacts. With the emergence of new power poles and increasing global interconnection, natural phenomena like this can have significant repercussions on a global scale, affecting everything from food security to the world economy. The study of Kikai and other similar volcanoes, such as Yellowstone in the USA and Toba in Indonesia, is essential to improve monitoring methods and predict future large-scale volcanic events.
With information from dailymail.co.uk.
Original published at O Cafezinho.