Volcanic Archipelago: Volcanism as a Geoheritage Characteristic of Japan

Abstract

This chapter sketches an overall volcanic profile of the Japanese Islands and provides a context for the volcanic geoheritage of Japan. Mechanisms and particularities of subduction zone volcanism are discussed, and the recent volcanic history of the Japanese Islands is compared with the volcanic histories of Chile and Indonesia. It becomes clear that Japan has not experienced very large eruption activities compared to Chile and Indonesia despite having geological similarities. This quiescence possibly implies a statistical likelihood of major eruptions in the near future due to accumulation of magma. It is also shown that the actual scale of volcanic eruptions is a poor determinant of the human casualty; instead, the locations of eruptions (distance from residential areas and access) and level of preparedness or vulnerability of the affected population are important factors. The chapter argues that although it is possible to provide probable eruption scenarios, accurate detailed forecasting remains difficult, as each volcano is a different system and the eruption style is not always identical even at a single volcano. It is also argued that fundamental research on individual volcanoes is indispensable to understand this dynamic earth heritage, and reflecting on experience of geoparks in Japan, the chapter states that such heritage branding could become effective tools for promoting awareness and resilience of local societies.