Shinmoedake volcano erupts in Japan in 52 years

Jan 28, 2011 Olympia de Costa

Shinmoedake volcano in the Kirishima range in the Southern Japanese island of Kyushu erupted after 52 years.

For the first time in 52 years, Shinmoedake volcano in the Kirishima range erupted spewing ash as high as 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) into the air. Shinmoedake is a volcano on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.

The eruption started on January 26, 2011 at 7:30 AM and it is said to be the strongest eruption since 1959, spewing smoke up to 2.5 km in the air and throwing volcanic bombs up to 1.5 km. Giant ash clouds pouring out of the volcano prompted the Tokyo VAAC to issue an ash warning for places above 25,000 feet (7.6 kilometers) and as a result of the eruption, an area of 2 km around the volcano has been evacuated.

The volcano eruption is reported to have resulted in the cancellation of more than 60 flights and also the evacuation of homes. The ashfall also prompted the closing of some nearby highways and rail lines.

Japan’s weather agency issued a level 3 alert for Shinmoedake and Sakurajima volcano to the south. Though the Japan Meteorological Agency authorities did not expect the volcano to threaten lives or property some residents in these areas have already voluntarily evacuated. It is reported that the eruption did not pose a threat to nearby cities, and due to the lack of magma movement beneath the surface volcanologists believe that a major eruption is not imminent and it is believed that it won't lead to a large-scale eruption.

Kirishima Volcano

The term “Kirishima Volcano” is a generic term for quaternary volcanoes located in Southern Kyushu, around the border between Kagoshima and Miyazaki. There are about 20 volcanoes and Shinmoedake is one of the active volcanoes among them.

A little bit of history

Numerous eruptions have been recorded in the mount Kirishima range since 742 and very strong eruptions are said to have happened in 788, 1716 and 1717. In 1959 there was a phreatic explosion, and then minor eruption occurred in 1991 after notable earthquakes. The eruption changed its style from phreatic explosion to phreatomagmatic explosion and then to magmatic eruption. There was also some minor eruption in August 2008. This volcano Shinmoedake is also said to have been featured in the James Bond movie, 'You Only Live Twice'.

Volcanoes in Japan

Japan is located at the Junction of four tectonic plates: Pacific, Philippine, Eurasian and North American. It is believed that ten percent of the active volcanoes in the world are in Japan.

Sources: http://outreach.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/eqvolc/201101_shinmoe/eng/

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=48945&src=eorss-nh

/japanese-volcano-kirishima-eruption-110126-1020/

Read more at Suite101: Shinmoedake volcano erupts in Japan in 52 years http://www.suite101.com/content/shinmoedake-volcano-erupts-in-japan-in-52-years-a339194#ixzz1CQszvlkB

http://www.suite101.com/content/shinmoedake-volcano-erupts-in-japan-in-52-years-a339194