Volcano in Japan Erupts...

[Rockhopper]

Japan's Kuchinoerabujima volcano, which last erupted in 1980, had a new eruption on August 3, 2014, at 03:24 UTC (12:24 local time). Japanese volcanologists raised the alert level to 3 and closed access to the summit area.
The eruption lasted about 10 minutes and consisted of a single powerful explosion from the Shintake crater which sent and ash plume to approximately 1.5 km height.
Much of the erupted mass collapsed into an impressive pyroclastic flow, VolcanoDiscovery reports.
Nearby residents were evacuated through the ash-free field of view. There are no reports of victims or damage.

From Here.

Tim

[Kaere]

Another one in Japan, Mount Ontake... this one caused quite a few injuries apparently.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/volcano-erupts-in-central-japan-40-people-injured-and-7-still-missing-1.2027428

[Rockhopper]

Yep Ka. Peeps were on the mountain at the time and got hot rain upon them from high!

Tim.

[Rockhopper]

30 People have been found dead in one group and there are likely some others too.

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

Volcano tourism is something they have,m we have it in other places, but the Hawaiian ones are mellow most of the time.

[Rockhopper]

Yep Len. Hawaii is a hot spot system. Japan, like NZ is on a subduction zone and has Stratovolcanoes. They have a nasty habit of going boom at in-opportune moments.

Tim.

[Kaere]

Yeah, I don't think this eruption was expected.

[Rockhopper]

Apparently not Ka. There was a swarm of 'quakes about a month ago but no warning of this blast.

Tim.

[Mordae]

So that's what, about 31 volcanoes erupting so far this year?

On the bright side, these eruptions might drive the global temperature down in a couple of years.

[Rockhopper]

Aye Mordie and the deniers will be dancing the Morris Dance!

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

Aye Mordie and the deniers will be dancing the Morris Dance!

Tim.

[Monk (in hiding)]

So that's what, about 31 volcanoes erupting so far this year?

On the bright side, these eruptions might drive the global temperature down in a couple of years.  

By releasing more Co2 into the air?

[Kaere]

I think it's more about the ash and debris that will linger in the atmosphere, VM.

Edit - and in a weird synch, the docu I'm listening to is talking about the cooling effect of volcanic sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. So weird.

[Rockhopper]

Yep it's caused by the volcanic dust being blown high up in the atmosphere, blocks out the sunlight.

The Pinatubo eruption caused a bit of cooling as well but it only lasted for a couple of years.

The CO2 erupted is part of the natural cycle, the CO2 we are releasing into the air is not. It's in addition to it.

Tim.

[Mordae]

That's the one Rock. It's believed the root cause of the "Year without Summer" was caused by a big indonesian eruption 5 years prior.

[Rockhopper]

Yeah Mordie. The Taupo eruption in 178AD caused crops to fail in China and Europe it was so big.

Tim.

[Monk (in hiding)]

[Rockhopper]

Stratovolcanoes blast dust and ash into the Stratosphere (30,000ft) and it spreads from there.

48 confirmed dead in Japan so far!  

A drawing of Vesuvius that Pliny observed.




Cool vid VM!

Tim.

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