erupted or otherwise exhibited volcanic activity in 2015. Once again, relevant information was provided to the relevant local authorities.

## (ii) Measures Against Ash Falling due to Active Volcanoes

Since the ash falling on roads due to volcanic eruption has a great social impact, such as traffic obstruction, a framework is being developed in order to remove ash quickly and appropriately from roads using street sweepers.

## (iii) Japan Meteorological Agency Initiatives

To prevent and mitigate volcanic eruption disasters, domestic volcanic activity is monitored and volcanic warnings are issued in a timely manner. Especially for the fifty volcanoes in need of more intensive monitoring/observation for volcanic disaster mitigation selected by the Coordinating Committee for Prediction of Volcanic Eruption observation facilities have been deployed and volcanic activity is being monitored around the clock (volcanoes subject to continuous observations Note).

Also, Volcanic Alert Levels are being applied and improved through coordination of evacuation planning at local Volcanic Disaster Mitigation Councils (applied to thirty-four volcanoes as of the end of March 2016).

In accordance with recommendations (March 2015) issued at an investigative meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Prediction of Volcanic Eruption held in response to the disaster caused by the eruption of Ontakesan (Mt. Ontake) in September 2014, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) commenced the issuance of “Details of Volcanic Activity”, which was clearly identified as being provisional in nature, and “Eruption Notice” designed to promptly report the fact of an eruption in progress, changed references to the key phrase “Normal” corresponding to Volcanic Forecasts and Volcanic Alert Level 1 to “Potential for increased activity,” and have otherwise been promoting improvements to volcanic information. In addition, JMA has sought to reinforce the system of volcanic observations and monitoring, such as by constructing new volcanic observation facilities.

## Column

## Major volcanic activities in 2015, and responses by the Japan Meteorological Agency

Looking back on 2015, there were intensified volcanic activities on Kuchinoerabujima, Hakoneyama (Mt. Hakone), Asosan (Mt. Aso), etc. This column describes the statuses of these volcanic activities and how the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) responded to them.

## Kuchinoerabujima

On Kuchinoerabujima, an explosive eruption occurred at 9:59 a.m., on May 29. JMA issued a Volcanic Warning at 10:07 a.m. on the same day, and raised the Volcanic Alert Level from 3 (Do not approach the volcano) to 5 (Evacuate) for the first time since the application of the Volcanic Alert Level. Following this, Yakushima-town officially issued an evacuation directive, and all residents in Kuchinoerabujima fled to the outside of island.

At the end of March, JMA stationed its staff on the island, who explained the results of field studies by the JMA Mobile Observation Team (JMA-MOT) and the volcanic activity status to the residents. After

May 29, 2015

Kuchinoerabujima Island

Eruption (as taken with a distant camera in

Motomura-Nishi)

Source) Japan Meteorological Agency

the eruption, the staff remained on Yakushima island and provided support related to the access to the island, such as explanations of the volcanic status, etc. They also installed more volcanic observation equipment such as seismometers and low-frequency microphones.