The 6th Joint Meeting of the UJNR Panel on Earthquake Research

Present situation of monitoring,

prediction and information
for volcanic disaster mitigation in Japan

Koji Aizawa
Division of Volcanology
Department of Seismology and Volcanology
Japan Meteorological Agency

JMA

Today s Contents
Overview of Volcanic Disaster mitigation
Operated by JMA
Example of Recent Response for Volcanic
Disaster by JMA and Local Authorities

JMA

Active Volcanoes in Japan

Definition of
ACTIVE volcanoes :
Volcanoes that erupted in
recent 10,000 years or
have vigorous fumaroles
TOTAL: 108 volcanoes

JMA

Volcanic eruption of last 10 years in Japan

Year 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
Meakan-Dake

Tokachi-Dake

Usuzan

Hokkaido Komagatake

Akita Yakeyama

Asamayama

Miyakejima

Izu-Torishima
Iwo-jima

Fukutoku-oka-no-ba
Kuju-san

Asosan

Sakurajima

Satsuma-Iwo-jima

Suwanose-jima
Moyoro-Dake

eruption occurred
JMA

Active Volcanoes in Japan

and Volcano Observations and Information Centers (VOICs)
Area of responsibility
Sapporo VOIC

Sapporo VOIC

Sendai VOIC
Tokyo VOIC

Yoteisan
Niseko

Fukuoka VOIC
Io-Torishima

Nansei Islands
Submarine Volcano
NNE of Iriomotejima

Fukuoka

Taisetsuzan
Ruruidake
Rishirizan Atosanupuri Shiretoko-Iozan
Etorofu-Atosanupuri
Tokachidake
Rausudake
Chirippusan

Usuzan
Hokkaido-Komagatake
Oshima-Oshima
Iwakisan
Hakkodasan
Akita-Yakeyama
Akita-Komagatake
Chokaisan
Bandaisan Hijiori
Numazawa
Hiuchigatake
Myokosan

Mashu

Eniwadake
Maruyama
Esan
Tarumaesan
Osorezan Kuttara
Towada
Sendai

Niigata-Yakeyama
Kusatsu-Shiranesan
Midagahara
VOIC
Yakedake
Akandanayama
Abu Volcanoes
Norikuradake
Sanbesan
Hakusan
Ontakesan

Unzendake
Fukue Volcanoes
Yonemaru and
Sumiyoshiike
Ikeda and Yamagawa
Kaimondake
Satuma-Iojima
Kuchinoerabujima
Kuchinoshima
Nakanoshima
Suwanosejima

Tsurumidake
Yokodake
and Garandake
Yufudake
Fujisan
Kujusan
Hakoneyama
Asosan
Izu-Tobu
Kirishimayama
Volcanoes
Wakamiko
Kozushima
Sakurajima
Mikurajima

Moyorodake
Sashiusudake
Odamoisan
Etorofu-Yakeyama
Berutarubesan
Chachadake
Raususan
Tomariyama
Meakandake

Toshima
Niijima
Miyakejima

Hachimantai
Iwatesan
Kurikomayama
Naruko
Zaozan
Azumayama
Adatarayama
Nasudake
Takaharayama
Nikko-Shiranesan
Akagisan
Harunasan
Asamayama

E140

VOIC
E144

Beyonesu Rocks
Sumisujima
Izu-Torishima
Sofugan

N32

N28

Nishinoshima
Kaikata Seamount
Kaitoku Seamount
Funka Asane
Izu-Oshima
Iojima
Kita-Fukutokutai
Fukutoku-Okanoba
Minami-Hiyoshi
VOIC
Seamount
Nikko Seamount
N24

Tokyo
Hachijojima
Aogashima

Izu-Ogasawara Islands

26 volcanoes written with red letters are continuously monitored by JMA.

VOIC

Disaster
Prevention
Authorities,
Mass Media

General Public

Collaborative work with researchers

Meteorological Observatories

Detailed Analysis of
Seismic and Geodetic data
Volcanic fumes activity

Volcano
Information
Volcanic Regular Bulletin

Diagnosis of
Volcanic Activity

Tiltmeter
24 hours Watch
Real-time
telemeter

Data Analysis

Quick look analysis and watch of data

Issuance of Volcano Information

Dispatch of
Mobile Observation
Team

Mobile Observation Team

Regular survey of volcanoes
Emergency observation of volcanoes

VOIC
GPS

Infrasonic Seismometer
Microphone

High-sensitive
Visual Camera

Volcano Information and

Volcano Information

Volcanic Alert

Volcanic Alert is issued when volcanic activities are

extremely intensified and urgent countermeasures to
prevent/mitigate damage to human lives are required.

Volcanic Advisory

Volcanic Advisory is issued when unusual volcanic

phenomena are observed and preparation for disaster
prevention/mitigation is required.

Volcanic
Observation Report

Volcanic Observation Report is issued as supplemental

information to Volcanic Alert and/or Volcanic Advisory.

Bulletin of Volcanoes
Volcanic Regular Bulletin (Monthly)
Monthly Report on Earthquake and Volcanoes in Japan
Weekly Report on Earthquake and Volcanoes in Japan

JMA

Volcanic Activity Levels by JMA

Volcanic Activity Levels

ACTIVE
CALM
DORMANT

ADV.

SMALL ERUPTION, CAUTION

Volcanic Observation Report

LARGE-MIDDLE ERUPTION

ALERT

VERY LARGE ERUPTION

Dessimination of Volcano Information

Volcano Information

Coordinating Committee of
Prediction of Volcanic Eruption

Members :
Volcanologists and public offices
Universities
Research Institutes
(NIED, GSJ, PWRI)
Geological Survey Institute
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Cabinet Office
Ministry of Education
Japan Coast Guard
Japan Meteorological Agency
(Secretariat)

Eruption of Asama volcano in 2004

Distribution of continuous observation points at

Asama by JMA as of March 2006

: Seismometer
: Infrasonic microphone,
: Seismic intensity meter
: Tiltmeter
: GPS
: Visual camera.
JMA

Level

Volcanic activity

Eruption

Very large eruption or possibility

Pyroclastic flow and/or lava flow Pyroclastic flow and/or lava flow reach to the town
distant from the mountain.
reach to distant area from
the mountain.

Large eruption or possibility

Big explosion affects the town.

Volcanic bombs reach to the town (more than 3km

distant from the crater).
Small pyroclastic flow, air shock affects the houses
in the town.

Explosive eruption at the

summit crater or possibility
Explosion occurs. or
Precursor of eruption e.g.
Large flux of volcanic gas
Seismic swarm
Glowing etc.

Explosive eruption.
Volcanic bombs reach to the mountain slope (within
3km distant from the crater)
Very small pyroclastic flow

Active
Volcano is rather active. e.g.,
Volcanic gas increases
Volcanic earthquakes

Very small eruption might occur occasionally.

Calm
Activity of volcanic quakes,
smokes and others is low.

Low possibility of eruption

Dormant

No possibility of eruption

The restriction rule of the climbing

mountain according to the level

The rule for off-limits of Asama

Level 0 : No restriction
Level 1 : Off-limits within 500m
from the crater.
Level 2 : Off-limits within about 2
km from the crater.
Level 3 : Off-limits within 4 km
from the crater.
JMA
MLIT(2004)

Volcanic glow before eruption

The photo was taken on 7 August 2004 from Karuizawa Weather

Station about 8km south of the vent.
Volcanic glow was observed only at night by highly sensitive
video camera from 25 July 2004 about 1 month before the
eruption.

JMA

Eruption at 20:02 on 1 September 2004.

Upper left: Right after the eruption,

light of plume was seen through the
clouds.
Upper right: After that, volcanic bombs
scattered as far as 2km from the vent.
Lower: An example of photo taken in
fine weather. Red dotted line shows the
area where volcanic bombs scattered
on 1 September 2004.

Eruption in 2004
300
200

Volcanic quakes

Eruptions

100
0
2003/10/1 2003/12/1 2004/2/1 2004/4/2
5
4
3 Volcanic Activity Level
2
1
0
2003/10/1 2003/12/1 2004/2/1 2004/4/2
50
40
Hourly
30
20
10
0
2004/8/31 0:00

number of quakes

2004/9/1 0:00

LEVEL 2

2004/6/3

2004/8/3

2004/10/4 2004/12/4

2004/6/3

2004/8/3 2004/10/4 2004/12/4

The local governments

forbade entering the area
EXP.
within 4km from the
active crater!
2004/9/2 0:00

LEVEL 3

Observation Report

2004/9/3 0:00

Precursor of eruption at Asama

Tilt change and B type earthquakes before several to 30 hours
Explosions Precursors Predicted
Sep. 1
Sep. 23
Sep. 29
Oct. 10
Nov. 14

No Explosion
Oct. 6
Feb. 21-22

JMA
22

23

24

25 September 2004

Ground deformation and volcano information

9 27

9 28

9 29

Erup
tion
S-up,W-up
0.2rad

9 30

On 29 September
At 00:43 volcano info.

Volcano information
Volcano information

At 08:15 volcano info.

At 12:17 eruption

Hourly frequencies of BH
type volcanic earthquakes

JMA
9 27

9 28

9 29

9 30

Summary
There are difficulties to exactly
predict volcanic eruption on present
technical level.
But, at volcano where monitoring system
is operating, some eruptions rarely occur
completely without precursors, so we
can issue Volcano information before
eruption in some case.
For volcanic disaster mitigation, it is important to operate volcanic
monitoring system and issue adequate information to the public.

JMA

Thank you!

Official mascots of JMA

Hare-run