Yoshihiro Ishizuka

Reconstruction of a phreatic eruption on 27 September 2014 at Ontake volcano, central Japan, based on proximal pyroclastic density current and fallout deposits

The phreatic eruption at Ontake volcano on 27 September 2014, which caused the worst volcanic disaster in the past half-century in Japan, was reconstructed based on observations of the proximal pyroclastic density current (PDC) and fallout deposits. Witness observations were also used to clarify the eruption process. The deposits are divided into three major depositional units (Units A, B, and C) which are characterized by massive, extremely poorly sorted, and multimodal grain-size distribution with 30–50xa0wt% of fine ash (silt–clay component). The depositional condition was initially dry but eventually changed to wet. Unit A originated from gravity-driven turbulent PDCs in the relatively dry, vent-opening phase. Unit B was then produced mainly by fallout from a vigorous moist plume during vent development. Unit C was derived from wet ash fall in the declining stage. Ballistic ejecta continuously occurred during vent opening and development. As observed in the finest population of the grain-size distribution, aggregate particles were formed throughout the eruption, and the effect of water in the plume on the aggregation increased with time and distance. Based on the deposit thickness, duration, and grain-size data, and by applying a scaling analysis using a depth-averaged model of turbulent gravity currents, the particle concentration and initial flow speed of the PDC at the summit area were estimated as 2xa0×xa010−4–2xa0×xa010−3 and 24–28xa0m/s, respectively. The tephra thinning trend in the proximal area shows a steeper slope than in similar-sized magmatic eruptions, indicating a large tephra volume deposited over a short distance owing to the wet dispersal conditions. The Ontake eruption provided an opportunity to examine the deposits from a phreatic eruption with a complex eruption sequence that reflects the effect of external water on the eruption dynamics.

Reconstruction of the 2014 eruption sequence of Ontake Volcano from recorded images and interviews

A phreatic eruption at Mount Ontake (3067xa0m) on September 27, 2014, led to 64 casualties, including missing people. In this paper, we clarify the eruption sequence of the 2014 eruption from recorded images (photographs and videos obtained by climbers) and interviews with mountain guides and workers in mountain huts. The onset of eruption was sudden, without any clear precursory surface phenomena (such as ground rumbling or strong smell of sulfide). Our data indicate that the eruption sequence can be divided into three phases. Phase 1: The eruption started with dry pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) caused by ash column collapse. The PDCs flowed down 2.5xa0km SW and 2xa0km NW from the craters. In addition, PDCs moved horizontally by approximately 1.5xa0km toward N and E beyond summit ridges. The temperature of PDCs at the summit area partially exceeded 100xa0°C, and an analysis of interview results suggested that the temperature of PDCs was mostly in the range of 30–100xa0°C. At the summit area, there were violent falling ballistic rocks. Phase 2: When the outflow of PDCs stopped, the altitude of the eruption column increased; tephra with muddy rain started to fall; and ambient air temperature decreased. Falling ballistic rocks were almost absent during this phase. Phase 3: Finally, muddy hot water flowed out from the craters. These models reconstructed from observations are consistent with the phreatic eruption models and typical eruption sequences recorded at similar volcanoes.

Aeromagnetic constraints on the subsurface structure of Usu Volcano, Hokkaido, Japan

Usu Volcano, Hokkaido, Japan consists mainly of dacitic volcanic rocks underlain by basaltic somma lava and Pliocene–Pleistocene andesitic volcanic rocks, and erupts every 20–30 years. The most recent eruption, in 2000, was the first since 1978. We conducted a helicopter-borne high-resolution aeromagnetic survey almost three months after the start of this eruption. We calculated magnetic anomalies on a smoothed observation surface using a reduction method, assuming equivalent anomalies below the actual observation surface. We conducted three-dimensional (3D) imaging of magnetic anomalies to constrain the subsurface structure. Our model indicates that there are magnetisation highs in the main edifice of Usu Volcano, which may reflect the subsurface distribution of the Usu somma lava. Meanwhile, magnetisation lows lie north-west of the Nishi-Yama Craters Area and on Higashi-Maruyama Cryptodome, where nearby Pliocene and Pleistocene volcanic rocks, respectively, are found. The reverse magnetisation observed at outcrops close to these sites could explain the magnetisation lows. Although the survey improved our understanding of the surface and subsurface distribution of volcanic rocks in the edifice and basement of Usu Volcano, some limitations remain. No information about the magmas intruded during the recent eruptions in 1977–1978 and 2000 was obtained by the survey, though some of these intrusions were revealed by other geophysical data. The small magnetic contrast between the intruded magmas and their host rocks is the most probable reason. Perhaps the intruded magmas (in particular, those of the most recent eruption) had not cooled enough to become strongly magnetised by the time the survey was conducted.

Distribution and mass of tephra-fall deposits from volcanic eruptions of Sakurajima Volcano based on posteruption surveys

We estimate the total mass of ash fall deposits for individual eruptions of Sakurajima Volcano, southwest Japan based on distribution maps of the tephra fallout. Five ash-sampling campaigns were performed between 2011 and 2015, during which time Sakurajima continued to emit ash from frequent Vulcanian explosions. During each survey, between 29 and 53 ash samplers were installed in a zone 2.2–43xa0km downwind of the source crater. Total masses of erupted tephra were estimated using several empirical methods based on the relationship between the area surrounded by a given isopleth and the thickness of ash fall within each isopleth. We obtained 70–40,520xa0t (4.7u2009×u200910−8–2.7u2009×u200910−5-km3 DRE) as the minimum estimated mass of erupted materials for each eruption period. The minimum erupted mass of tephra produced during the recorded events was calculated as being 890–5140xa0t (5.9u2009×u200910−7–3.6u2009×u200910−6-km3 DRE). This calculation was based on the total mass of tephra collected during any one eruptive period and the number of eruptions during that period. These values may thus also include the contribution of continuous weak ash emissions before and after prominent eruptions. We analyzed the meteorological effects on ash fall distribution patterns and concluded that the width of distribution area of an ash fall is strongly controlled by the near-ground wind speed. The direction of the isopleth axis for larger masses is affected by the local wind direction at ground level. Furthermore, the wind direction influences the direction of the isopleth axes more at higher altitude. While a second maximum of ash fall can appear, the influence of rain might only affect the finer particles in distal areas.