There are many volcanoes on the Japanese archipelago, where approximately 10% of the world’s on-land volcanoes are said to exist. The crust of the earth is covered with more than 10 gigantic rock plates. Slight movements of these plates are thought to cause a variety of disasters, including earthquakes and volcanic activities.

The subduction of the Pacific plate to the east or the Philippine Sea plate to the south under the Eurasian plate on the west side (the continent side) is the basic cause of active volcanic activities around the Japanese archipelago.

AIST's Geo Information Research branch, Institute of Geology and Geoinformation and Institute for Geo-Resorces and Environment, and Research Center for Deep Geological Environments are using their own approaches to independently conduct broad volcanic research ranging from research aimed at reducing disasters due to volcanic eruptions to research of geothermal heat resources and mineral resources that are the blessings of volcanic activities. Most of the research is aimed at seeking profound scientific understanding and is based on years of consistent surveys and observational studies. We are expected to offer scientific information necessary for disaster prevention measures and exploitation of volcanoes. In this special editiont, we will introduce you to the front line of volcanic research by AIST.

In Japan, serious disasters sometimes occur due to powerful volcanic activities. Eruptions of Mt. Usu in Hokkaido and of the volcano on the Izu Island of Miyake in 2000 are still fresh in our memory. It is necessary to always understand the way nature works to protect our lives and properties from the threat of nature and to prevent disasters.

Although volcanic activities themselves are natural phenomena, they cause disasters and damage both human life and industrial activities. The first step in developing disaster prevention measures starts from fully understanding volcanoes. It is then necessary for individuals, communities, governing bodies, and nations to take measures from each respective standpoint.

We are conducting research activities to provide the most basic information with the aim of improving reliability.

Many people live around volcanoes in Japan and also visit volcanoes for their beautiful natural environment, hot springs, and sightseeing. However, these people do not necessarily understand volcanoes well. We sincerely hope that people will deepen their understanding toward the actual conditions of volcanoes, take measures to minimize damage, and live a rich and peaceful life while enjoying the daily blessings of volcanoes. We are hoping to contribute toward that end through our research.

The AIST series Challenge Volcanic Eruptions (edited by the Geological Survey of Japan) focusing on research to reduce damage from volcanic eruptions is published by Maruzen. It may help you deepen your understanding.

At the Geological Museum in the AIST Tsukuba center, the state of the earth and the mechanisms of its change are introduced in a simple way using plenty of geological specimens, three-dimensional models, and images. Above all, we are trying to introduce a variety of geological phenomena from many viewpoints, such as volcanic eruptions and hot spring phenomena caused by magma rising to the earth's surface. Volcanoes let us feel the “living earth” and they greatly excite our curiosity. While volcanoes bring life threatening eruptions and landslide disasters, they can also enrich our lives with hot springs and geothermal and mineral resources. Coexistence with volcanoes may be an eternal theme for those who live on the Japanese archipelago. Many interesting questions about volcanoes arise, including: Where do active volcanoes exist and what kind of eruptions did they cause in the past, for instance what damage could occur if Mt. Fuji erupts? How are volcanoes and hot springs associated? How can we extract the energy from the geothermal fluid existing under volcanic regions? In what kind of places are clay deposits and metal veins such as gold, silver, copper, and zinc formed? How can we find a vein?

Why not visit the Geological Museum and discover the answers to these fundamental questions?