Mt,Ontake, Japan (27th September 2014)

Question 1

how does Japan usually manage its volcanoes?

Answer 1

• Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) who apply a 5 point system of volcanic alert level to monitored volcanoes (1=no threat)
• 24 hour surveillance used on 47 volcanoes that are believed will erupt in next 100 years

Question 2

why wasn’t the Mt Ontake eruption predicted?

Answer 2

the type of eruption didn’t cause the signals typically monitored at volcanoes. white ash was mostly steam. magma wasn’t directly involved. previous eruption in 1979 wasn’t monitored so no data to work with