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December 28, 2014 - Ash plumes from Asosan and Sakura-jima, southen Japan
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The densely populated volcanic archipelago of Japan sits at the junction of four slowly shifting tectonic plates. Where one plate slowly slides under another (the subduction zones) earthquakes and volcanoes are common. Japan is home to over 100 active volcanoes spread over approximately 6,800 islands.
The four largest islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku make up about ninety-seven percent of the land area of the country, and it is primarily on these islands that most of Japan’s population (more than 126 million people) resides. The residents have adapted to sharing their land with the restless volcanoes: 47 volcanoes are located on Honshu’s approximately 89,000 square mile (230,500 sq. km) area; 20 on Hokkaido (about 32,000 sq. mi or 83,500 sq. km); and 9 volcanoes on the smaller Kyushu (about 13,700 sq. mi or 35,600 sq. mi).
On November 25, 2014 the Asosan volcano located in central Kyushu began erupting from its Nakadake Crater, and, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the eruption has continued since that time. The week of December 8-12, plumes were reported rising 600 meters (1,968 feet) above the crater with incandescent material ejected over the rim. A field survey on December 10 found 20-cm (8 in) wide blocks ejected near the crater, and up to 10 cm (4 in) wide blocks within 1.2 km (.75 mi) southwest of the crater. A plume on December 15 rose 1 km (.62 mi) above the crater rim.
While Asosan was erupting, activity at Sakura-jima, located in southern Kyushu, increased its activity. Three unusually strong explosions were reported on November 30, producing ash plumes that rose to 16,000 feet (4.8 km). Activity has remained higher than normal, with frequent lava-rich explosions occurring frequently.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of ash plumes rising from both volcanoes on December 9, 2014. In the north, the broad tan plume from Asosan can be seen blowing almost due south across the green land of Kyushu. Further south the tan plume from Sakura-jima blows to the southwest.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 12/9/2014
Resolutions:
500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The densely populated volcanic archipelago of Japan sits at the junction of four slowly shifting tectonic plates. Where one plate slowly slides under another (the subduction zones) earthquakes and volcanoes are common. Japan is home to over 100 active volcanoes spread over approximately 6,800 islands.
The four largest islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku make up about ninety-seven percent of the land area of the country, and it is primarily on these islands that most of Japan’s population (more than 126 million people) resides. The residents have adapted to sharing their land with the restless volcanoes: 47 volcanoes are located on Honshu’s approximately 89,000 square mile (230,500 sq. km) area; 20 on Hokkaido (about 32,000 sq. mi or 83,500 sq. km); and 9 volcanoes on the smaller Kyushu (about 13,700 sq. mi or 35,600 sq. mi).
On November 25, 2014 the Asosan volcano located in central Kyushu began erupting from its Nakadake Crater, and, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the eruption has continued since that time. The week of December 8-12, plumes were reported rising 600 meters (1,968 feet) above the crater with incandescent material ejected over the rim. A field survey on December 10 found 20-cm (8 in) wide blocks ejected near the crater, and up to 10 cm (4 in) wide blocks within 1.2 km (.75 mi) southwest of the crater. A plume on December 15 rose 1 km (.62 mi) above the crater rim.
While Asosan was erupting, activity at Sakura-jima, located in southern Kyushu, increased its activity. Three unusually strong explosions were reported on November 30, producing ash plumes that rose to 16,000 feet (4.8 km). Activity has remained higher than normal, with frequent lava-rich explosions occurring frequently.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of ash plumes rising from both volcanoes on December 9, 2014. In the north, the broad tan plume from Asosan can be seen blowing almost due south across the green land of Kyushu. Further south the tan plume from Sakura-jima blows to the southwest.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 12/9/2014
Resolutions:
500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
