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Alert Level raised for Hakoneyama volcano, Japan

alert-level-raised-for-hakoneyama-volcano-japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) raised Alert Level for Hakoneyama volcano from Level 1 to Level 2 at 17:15 UTC on May 18 (02:15 JST on May 19). The last magmatic eruptive activity at this volcano took place about 2 900 years ago. The volcano is located in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of capital Tokyo.

JMA said the number of volcanic earthquakes has increased since the morning of May 18 (LT), along with fumarolic activity in Owakudani and the surrounding areas.

Large volcanic rocks could fall at Owakudani, JMA said, prohibiting access to the popular tourist spot.

According to The Asahi Shimbun, Hakone Ropeway Co. suspended operations between Sounzan and Togendai stations, the starting to final stops, and started to provide bus service between these stations.

Image credit: Σ64

Image credit: Batholith

Image credit: Yuichi Hayakawa

Geological summary

Hakoneyama volcano is truncated by two overlapping calderas, the largest of which is 10 x 11 km (6.2 – 6.8 miles) wide. The calderas were formed as a result of two major explosive eruptions about 180 000 and 49 000 – 60 000 years ago.

Scenic Lake Ashi lies between the SW caldera wall and a half dozen post-caldera lava domes that were constructed along a NW-SE trend cutting through the center of the calderas.

Dome growth occurred progressively to the NW, and the largest and youngest of these, Kamiyama, forms the high point. The calderas are breached to the east by the Hayakawa canyon.

A phreatic explosion about 3 000 years ago was followed by the collapse of the NW side of Kamiyama, damming the Hayakawa valley and creating Lake Ashi. The latest magmatic eruptive activity about 2 900 years ago produced a pyroclastic flow and a lava dome in the explosion crater, although phreatic eruptions took place as recently as the 12 – 13th centuries CE.

Seismic swarms have occurred during the 20th century. Lake Ashi, along with the thermal areas in the caldera, is a popular resort destination SW of Tokyo. (GVP)

Featured image credit: Yuichi Hayakawa

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One Comment

  1. According to the true Hebrew native jubilee calendar of the land the time of the kingdoms to rule will end at 12:00am today. That is 70 × 52 =3640 weeks of years. For both the solar and the lunar New Year. Thus the full time limit ends today. SUNDAY MAY 21ST 2200 THE 8TH DAY.
    The blood moon last night means that BABYLON DECREE of total LOST and DESTRUCTION will not be changed for THIS TUSDAY the 23rd.
    MERCY TO THE CHOSEN CHILDREN OF GOD WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD! AND TO THE ONES WHO WILL BE WITH THEM.

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