10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
[SVC34-01] Progress of volcanology and evaluation system of volcanic activities
Keywords:evaluation of volcanic activities, monitoring of volcanic activities, criterion for the volcanic alert levels
Steady accomplishment of volcanic disaster prevention is possible by evaluating volcanic activities appropriately as well as reliable monitoring of those. Since these are based on volcanic monitoring technology and scientific evaluation, progress in volcanology and surrounding academic fields is strongly expected, and it is necessary to improve the monitoring and evaluation system by applying them.
The monitoring and evaluation of volcanic activities in Japan are institutionally carried out by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which is responsible for eruption warnings. JMA is not only dependent on academia, but is also actively working to improve evaluation technique, in addition to introducing technology related to monitoring and evaluation as volcanology progresses.
JMA is currently evaluating the volcanic activity of 111 active volcanoes. Of these, 50 volcanoes are constantly observed, and the volcanic alert levels based on hazard evaluations have been established, and service of volcanic warning issuance is being advanced by appropriate evaluations of volcanic activity. Some of 50 volcanoes have progressed in research and understanding of volcanic activity, and the volcanism is becoming relatively clear, while many are not. However, even if a volcanism is not well understood, when the observation data changes at the volcano, it is necessary to evaluate the activity and consider whether or not to issue an volcanic warning.
For volcanoes such as Sakurajima, Asamayama, and Asosan, where eruptions are frequently observed and research progresses, changes in observation data have made it possible to evaluate the potential of current volcanic activity to some extent, but short-term evaluations are often still difficult nowadays. Furthermore, it is more difficult to evaluate the activity of volcanoes with little activity history. It is not difficult to imagine that it was not easy to evaluate the activities of volcanoes that occurred the virgin eruption since the start of monitoring, such as the 2015 Hakoneyama eruption and the 2018 Iwoyama in Kirishima volcanoes.
In this presentation, we will explain the specific structure of volcanic activity evaluation in JMA, such as the evaluation procedure using schematic images of sequential volcanism beneath a volcano, and then, give our thoughts on what is needed and what should be sought in volcanology for the sophistication of activity assessment. On the other hand, we would also like to consider what is required of an organization with task of monitoring and evaluation in order to promote the progress of volcanology.
The monitoring and evaluation of volcanic activities in Japan are institutionally carried out by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which is responsible for eruption warnings. JMA is not only dependent on academia, but is also actively working to improve evaluation technique, in addition to introducing technology related to monitoring and evaluation as volcanology progresses.
JMA is currently evaluating the volcanic activity of 111 active volcanoes. Of these, 50 volcanoes are constantly observed, and the volcanic alert levels based on hazard evaluations have been established, and service of volcanic warning issuance is being advanced by appropriate evaluations of volcanic activity. Some of 50 volcanoes have progressed in research and understanding of volcanic activity, and the volcanism is becoming relatively clear, while many are not. However, even if a volcanism is not well understood, when the observation data changes at the volcano, it is necessary to evaluate the activity and consider whether or not to issue an volcanic warning.
For volcanoes such as Sakurajima, Asamayama, and Asosan, where eruptions are frequently observed and research progresses, changes in observation data have made it possible to evaluate the potential of current volcanic activity to some extent, but short-term evaluations are often still difficult nowadays. Furthermore, it is more difficult to evaluate the activity of volcanoes with little activity history. It is not difficult to imagine that it was not easy to evaluate the activities of volcanoes that occurred the virgin eruption since the start of monitoring, such as the 2015 Hakoneyama eruption and the 2018 Iwoyama in Kirishima volcanoes.
In this presentation, we will explain the specific structure of volcanic activity evaluation in JMA, such as the evaluation procedure using schematic images of sequential volcanism beneath a volcano, and then, give our thoughts on what is needed and what should be sought in volcanology for the sophistication of activity assessment. On the other hand, we would also like to consider what is required of an organization with task of monitoring and evaluation in order to promote the progress of volcanology.