Research Support
SPIRITS

Japan-Taiwan Research Collaborations and Networking on Volcanic-Geothermal Activities and Mitigation of Volcanic Disasters

Project Gist

The collaborative research activities are expected to produce; i) enhanced scientific understanding volcanic-geothermal activities, and ii) cooperative education system for this research region.

Keywords

Volcanic activity, Geothermal activity, Mitigation of volcanic hazards, Educational program

Background and Purpose

Research on prediction of volcanic eruptions has been carried out mainly on frequent erupting volcanoes in Japan. This program succeeds to detect precursors before many eruptions. But in some volcanoes, no eruption has occurred after detecting anomalous phenomena. Aso Volcano is a typical example in Japan, and Tatun Volcanic Group is another example in Taiwan. We have active geothermal fields in Kyushu, and Taiwan also has many geothermal areas. We and Taiwan also have active earthquake activity. The purpose of this project is construction of international network of the scientists who will make advanced research on volcanic-geothermal activity and mitigation of hazards. The collaborative research activities are expected to produce; i) enhanced scientific understanding volcanic-geothermal activities, and ii) cooperative education system for this research region.

Project Achievements

We carried out cooperative survey to understand the features of volcanic & geothermal activities in Kyushu and Taiwan 2 times in 2014; Gueishantoh and Beppu-Kuju-Aso volcanic areas, and 3 time in 2015; Tatun Volcanic Group, Ilan Geothermal Area, Sakurajima-Kirishima-Aso-Kuju-Beppu Geothermal Area. After these surveys, we have the following common ideas; 1) Tatun Volcanic Group and Ilan & Gueishantoh Area are the most important area in Taiwan for cooperative research, 2) Kyushu has various kinds of volcanic & geothermal activities, 3) it will be fruitful for both Japan and Taiwan to have cooperative research program and cooperative educational program, 4) we already have good contents and guidebooks for cooperative survey excursions.

Future Prospects

We will cooperate with Taiwan scientists to exchange the knowledge on volcanological research and mitigation of volcanic hazard. We are planning to open a cooperative educational program for survey excursion between Kyoto University and National Taiwan University. We will also try to have cooperative research program in the future.

Figure

Agenda of International Workshop 2014 on Mt. Tatun (Taipei)
Group photo in front of Tatun Volcano Observatory (October, 2015)
Typical scene of survey excursion in Myoban Hot Spring, Beppu City (March, 2016)

Principal Investigator

KAGIYAMA Tsuneomi

・KAGIYAMA Tsuneomi
・Graduate School of Science
・He has continued research on prediction of volcanic eruptions, especially on the wide variation of manor of volcanic activities in Kyushu Volcanoes. After visiting Taiwan, he was interested in the difference of volcanic activity in Taiwan, he expected to get deeper understanding of volcanism by comparative research of volcanoes in Kyushu and Taiwan.