Report on Kirishimayama (Japan) — 6 December-12 December 2023
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 6 December-12 December 2023
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2023. Report on Kirishimayama (Japan) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 6 December-12 December 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Kirishimayama
Japan
31.934°N, 130.862°E; summit elev. 1700 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
JMA lowered the Alert Level for Kirishimayama to 1 (on a 5-level scale) on 6 December. The number of volcanic earthquakes had increased during July-August in an area around the NE side of Karakunidake and on 15 September and had remained low since then. Minor inflation detected in May slowed in October and was no longer detected in November. Fumarolic areas remained at normal levels.
Geological Summary. Kirishimayama is a large group of more than 20 Quaternary volcanoes located north of Kagoshima Bay. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene dominantly andesitic group consists of stratovolcanoes, pyroclastic cones, maars, and underlying shield volcanoes located over an area of 20 x 30 km. The larger stratovolcanoes are scattered throughout the field, with the centrally located Karakunidake being the highest. Onamiike and Miike, the two largest maars, are located SW of Karakunidake and at its far eastern end, respectively. Holocene eruptions have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Miike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoedake to the NE. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century.
