Pagan is a stratovolcano located in the United States, standing at an elevation of 570.0 meters within a subduction zone where crustal thickness is unknown. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a recorded history of 21 confirmed eruptions. The earliest recorded eruption dates back to 1340 CE (with a 100-year uncertainty), while the most recent recorded eruption period began on July 29, 2021, and ended on September 6, 2021.
Eruption History and Century Distribution
Historical activity at Pagan spans multiple centuries, with documentation shifting from isotopic methods in early eras to direct human observations in later centuries. The 21 confirmed eruptions are distributed unevenly across time, reflecting both actual volcanic behavior and gaps in historical record-keeping.
- 14th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 17th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 18th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 19th century CE: 3 confirmed eruptions
- 20th century CE: 10 confirmed eruptions
- 21st century CE: 5 confirmed eruptions
The largest recorded eruption in the available record reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4.0, which occurred during an activity period spanning from May 15, 1981, to May 1, 1985, at the North Pagan summit and north flank. Across the database, 18 of the 21 confirmed eruptions include recorded VEI observations.
Selected Historical Eruption Records
The confirmed eruption collection encompasses various activity areas across the volcano, ranging from the west flank maar to the summit and north flank. Selected examples from the official record illustrate the diversity of documented events:
- 1340 CE (approximate): Located at North Pagan (west flank maar), investigated via isotopic 14C (calibrated) evidence.
- July 2, 1873 CE: A reported observation at North Pagan with a recorded VEI of 3.0.
- May 15, 1981 – May 1, 1985 CE: A major event at the North Pagan summit and north flank with a recorded VEI of 4.0.
- July 2, 1996 CE: A reported observation at North Pagan with a recorded VEI of 1.0.
- July 29 – September 6, 2021 CE: The latest recorded complete eruption sequence, featuring a VEI of 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many eruptions has Pagan recorded?
Pagan has 21 confirmed eruptions recorded in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database.
When was Pagan's earliest recorded eruption?
The earliest recorded eruption occurred around 1340 CE, with a 100-year uncertainty.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Pagan?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Pagan is 4.0, which occurred during the 1981–1985 eruption.
When was Pagan's latest recorded eruption?
The latest recorded eruption took place from July 29 to September 6, 2021.
Image credits
- Frank Trusdell, USGS. — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.