Researcher Information

AOYAMA Hiroshi

Professor

Physical mechanism of volcanic eruption and associated activities

Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Volcano Physics

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Theme

Researches on dynamics of volcanic activity based on seismic and geodetic data

FieldPhysical volcanology, Seismology
KeywordActive volcanoes, Volcanic eruption, Eruption forecasting, Volcano observation, Volcanic earthquakes, Crustal deformation, Volcanic hazard mitigation

Introduction of Research

What do you associate with the word “volcano”? As you can see that many volcanoes in Japan are designated as national or quasi-national parks, volcanoes provide wonderful benefits such as beautiful landscapes and hot springs (see "Tokachidake volcano from Bougakudai"). There are many volcanoes that have been closely related to the lives of Japanese people since ancient times and have been regarded as subjects of faith. On the other hand, some people may think of negative aspects such as eruptions and disasters.  It is true that volcanic eruptions have brought about painful disasters.
Most volcanoes do not erupt all the time but repeat active and dormant period. To get along well with volcanoes, it is important to enjoy the benefits of volcanoes when safe and to fear the volcano properly when dangerous. We aim to contribute to society through research such as understanding of the mechanism of the eruption which causes disaster and improvement of forecasting technique of volcanic activity.
At the Ontake volcano eruption in 2014 and the Moto-shirane volcano eruption in 2018, not only the fear of the volcanic disaster but also the difficulty of forecasting the phreatic eruption were widely recognized. Even in Hokkaido, phreatic eruption occurred in Meakandake volcano in 2006 and 2008.  We discovered that volcanic tremors with tilt change are hidden in the earthquakes preceding those eruptions (see "Tilt motion recorded by a broadband seismometer"). This is an important clue to suggest mass transfer in the mountain before eruption. There are various types of phreatic eruption, and it may be difficult to apply this example to other volcanoes. However, our knowledge became one of reasons for improvements in forecasting techniques for phreatic eruption. Also, at the same time as this discovery, we showed that the inclination (tilt motion) of the ground can also be observed with a broadband seismometer (see "Schematic of tilt observation by a seismometer"). Today, researchers in Japan and overseas as well as Japan Meteorological Agency are utilizing our technique for data interpretation and volcanic monitoring.
At Tokachidake volcano, it is revealed that the ground near the summit craters is often tilted even in non-erupting period, from the data of the new seismic and tilt station in the vicinity of the active crater. It is very interesting to investigate what kind of volcanic process under the ground is related to this tilt change.
Since the last eruption of Usu volcano in 2000, no magmatic eruption has occurred in Hokkaido. However, before that, serious eruption occurred in Tokachidake in 1962 and 1988, and Usu in 1977. Therefore, such serious magmatic eruption will occur again in Hokkaido in the near future. In order to deepen the understanding of magmatic eruptions, we also visit volcanoes in Indonesia and Italy to conduct observational research to investigate the mechanisms of magmatic eruption and volcanic earthquakes (see "Schematic of eruption mechanism of Lokon volcano", see "Night view of Strombolian eruption").

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Tokachidake volcano from Bougakudai
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Tilt motion recorded by a broadband seismometer
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Schematic of tilt observation by a seismometer
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Schematic of eruption mechanism of Lokon volcano
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Night view of Strombolian eruption

Representative Achievements

Gas flux cyclic regime at an open vent magmatic column inferred from seismic and acoustic records, G. Kondo, H. Aoyama, T. Nishimura, M. Ripepe, G. Lacanna, R. Genco, R. Kawaguchi, T. Yamada, T. Miwa, and E. Fujita, Sci. Rep., 9, 5678, 2019.
Initial phases of explosion earthquakes accompanying Vulcanian eruptions at Lokon-Empung volcano, Indonesia, T. Yamada, H. Aoyama, T. Nishimura, H. Yakiwara, H. Nakamichi, J. Oikawa, M. Iguchi, M. Hendrasto, and Y. Suparman, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 327, 310-321, 2016.
Precursory tilt changes of small phreatic eruptions of Meakan-dake volcano, Hokkaido, Japan, in November 2008, H. Aoyama, and H. Oshima, Earth, Planets and Space, 67, 119, 2015.
Tilt change recorded by broadband seismometer prior to small phreatic explosion of Meakan‐dake volcano, Hokkaido, Japan, H. Aoyama, and H. Oshima, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L06307, 2008.
Simplified test on tilt response of CMG40T seismometers, H. Aoyama, Bull. Volcanol. Soc. Japan, 2008, 53, 35-46.
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Related industries

Social infrastructure, Hazard mitigation, Sabo
Academic degreePh. D. (Science)
Self Introduction

I graduated Tokyo Metropolitan High School and belonged to Wondervogel club in my high school days. It's my happiness to heal the trekking tiredness at the hot springs.

Academic background1996 Graduated, Department of Geophysics, School of Science, Hokkaido University
1998 Finished Master course , Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
2001 Finished Doctoral course, Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
2001-2017 Assistant Professor, Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University
2011-2017 Part-time Lecturer, Department of Engeneering, Muroran Institute of Technology
2017-Present Associate Professor, Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University
Affiliated academic societyThe Volcanological Society of Japan, The Seismological Society of Japan, Japan Geoscience Union, American Geophysical Union
ProjectIntegrated Program for Next Generation Volcano Research and Human Resource Development
Earthquake and Volcano Hazards Observation and Research Program
Room addressFaculty of Science Builting 4 4-302

Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Volcano Physics

AOYAMA Hiroshi

Professor

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What made you decide to become a researcher?

I would like to say, “practical application of volcanic eruption prediction”, but considering the difficulty of achieving this goal, we still have a long way to go. To achieve this “dream”, we need many young people who are willing to work with us to continue our basic research on volcanoes. It is also important to convey to many students the beauty and complexity of volcanic phenomena and the pleasure of scientific research, and to bring up the next generation of volcano researchers who will be leading the future volcanology.

Beautiful Strombolian eruption seen at the summit of Stromboli Island in southern Italy in 2014.
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What made you decide to become a researcher?

When I had only an obscure dream to become a researcher, I was blessed with many professors who made me interested in the world of research, as well as a lot of classmates, seniors, and juniors, who sheared the same dream as students at Hokkaido University, where I spent my undergraduate years, and at the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo, where I spent my graduate school years. I think that the relationships with the people around me were a major factor in my choice to become a researcher. I am still indebted to the people I met during those days.

Asama volcano, a research field during my graduate school.
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Please tell us what you think is good about your lab.

There are only a few laboratories in Japan that can conduct observational research on volcanoes. Our laboratory is one of them, and we take advantage of the geographical location of Hokkaido University to conduct observational research mainly on active volcanoes in Hokkaido. Even in this technologically advanced age, volcano observations are still labor-intensive, so the staff and students in our laboratory help each other in the observation work. I feel that working together toward the same goal creates a strong bond among the members and leads to daily active discussions in the laboratory.

Laboratory members approaching to the observation site on Tokachidake volcano.