Volcanic Activity around Showa Crater of Sakurajima Volcano Monitored with Infrared and Video Cameras

Abstract

2006年6月4日に，桜島東斜面の昭和火口周辺部から噴火活動が始まり，6月20日までのおよそ半月間継続した。今回の噴火活動は間欠的な小規模噴煙放出で特徴付けられ，6月9日以降はごく小規模な火砕サージも発生した。昭和火口周辺を含む桜島南岳の東～南東斜面の熱異常域は、2006年3月にはすでに活発化しており，これは2006年噴火の前兆現象のひとつであった。

The 2006 eruptions around Showa crater which located at the eastern flank of Minamidake, Sakurajima volcano, started on June 4, 2006, after 58 years dormancy. It continued about half a month. This eruption was characterized by the numerous emissions of volcanic slugs with time intervals of 5-30 min. Small scaled pyroclastic surges were observed after June 9 till the end of the eruption. As results of infrared thermal observations during 2006, geothermal activities of eastern to southeastern flank of Minamidake have increased prior to the 2006 eruptions. Still March 2007, no significant changes of thermal activities have been recognized after the eruption.