Volcanic Japan- Week 5
A Nation on the Ring of Fire
Japan sits on the infamous “Pacific Ring of Fire," a hotspot
of seismic and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Ocean. With over
100 active volcanoes, Japan is home to 10% of the world’s volcanoes! Some, like
Mount Fuji, while others, like Sakurajima, remind
us of their power with frequent eruptions.
Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers
southwest of Tokyo.
How Japan Stays Prepared
When a volcano stirs, Japan doesn’t just wait and hope for the best. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) keeps a constant eye on volcanic activity using seismographs, GPS sensors, thermal imaging, and satellite data. Every tremor, gas emission, or temperature change is analyzed to predict eruptions as early as possible. gsj.jp/en/
Japan also has a five-level volcanic alert system, warning
residents when a volcano shows signs of increased activity:
- Level 1 – No immediate danger but stay aware.
- Level 2 – Stay away from the crater.
- Level 3 – No-go zone! The volcano may erupt soon.
- Level 4 – Get ready to evacuate.
- Level 5 – Evacuate immediately!
When an eruption is imminent, alerts are sent through TV,
radio, phone notifications, and even public loudspeakers. Disaster drills are a
regular part of life, ensuring people know what to do when the earth
rumbles.
Lessons from Sakurajima
If there’s one volcano that keeps Japan on its toes, it’s Sakurajima. Located near Kagoshima City, this active volcano erupts so often that residents carry umbrellas not just for rain but for falling ash! Thanks to constant monitoring, people here know how to respond quickly, proving that preparedness can save lives. jma.go.jp
The Sakurajima is
close to Kagoshima city, which is home to some 600,000 people.
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Hello Sozan,
ReplyDeleteYour country is similar to my country Chile since it also sits on the Ring of Fire making it prone to earthquakes, and volcanoes. 200 volcanoes is a lot for Japan since it is a smaller country. It is great that Japan has the Japan Meteorological Agency that can help warn the people in the country. It is important for Japan to continue monitoring their volcanos and for the people to be able to stay informed by these alerts. Great blog post!
Hello Sozan,
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed exploring your blog! It's fascinating to learn that Japan has many more volcanoes than my country, South Korea. The advanced warning and preparedness system in Japan is impressive, especially given the high level of volcanic activity there. In contrast, South Korea has only two volcanoes, which means the risk is significantly lower. Overall, I found your insights about Japan’s volcanoes to be incredibly engaging!
—Mallory
This is a great blog! I love the background theme. I really like how organized your blog is and that made it so easy to learn about volcanoes in Japan! I enjoyed reading about why people in Japan carry umbrellas and I loved what you said about it being the land of the rising ash. Fantastic job on your blog!
ReplyDelete