JMA reported that 34 explosions from Sakura-jima's Showa Crater ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m during 26-30 August. Incandescence from the crater was visible at night on 26 August. An explosion on 29 August at 0927 generated an ash plume that rose 3 km and caused ashfall in areas from Miyazaki (80 km NW) to Kagoshima (12 km W). Tephra 1 cm in diameter was confirmed in an area 4 km E.

Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 28 August-3 September explosions generated plumes most days that rose to altitudes of 1.5-4 km (5,000-13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E, NE, and NW. On 31 August a pilot observed an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and traveled NE.

Geological Summary. The Aira caldera in the northern half of Kagoshima Bay contains the post-caldera Sakurajima volcano, one of Japan's most active. Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow accompanied formation of the 17 x 23 km caldera about 22,000 years ago. The smaller Wakamiko caldera was formed during the early Holocene in the NE corner of the caldera, along with several post-caldera cones. The construction of Sakurajima began about 13,000 years ago on the southern rim and built an island that was joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kitadake summit cone ended about 4,850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at Minamidake. Frequent eruptions since the 8th century have deposited ash on the city of Kagoshima, located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest recorded eruption took place during 1471-76.

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)