New Discovery of Mount Fuji in Japan! During the empty window period, there were actually 6 quiet eruptions. Research | Investigation | Mount Fuji, Japan
According to a report compiled by Japan's Headlines, a research team consisting of the University of Tokyo and the Fujiyama Institute of Science in Yamanashi Prefecture has recently released the latest research results. Through investigation of the sediment at the bottom of Lake Shanzhong, they found that Mount Fuji actually experienced at least 6 unknown eruptions during the eruption window period. This indicates that the volcanic activity of this era may have been underestimated before.
By investigating the volcanic ash layers containing volcanic debris in the geological strata, we can determine the scale and duration of past volcanic eruptions. However, there are also cases on land where volcanic ash layers are not fully residual due to erosion and other reasons.
The research team focused on the well preserved bottom of the lake and investigated the sediment collected from the bottom of Shanzhong Lake over the past 8000 years in 1998. They also excavated a hole about 20 meters deep on the lakeside to investigate the strata and compare it with previous research, verifying the age of volcanic debris. Through this investigation, six previously undiscovered volcanic debris samples from 5050-3900 years ago were discovered.
Shanzhong Lake is located at the northeast foot of Mount Fuji, at the easternmost position among the five lakes of Fuji. Due to the frequent westerly winds in the sky, the volcanic ash layer left by the mountain lake is the highest.
The most recent eruption of Mount Fuji occurred in 1707 during the Edo period. Therefore, Mount Fuji has not erupted for over 300 years. However, in the past 5600 years, there have been approximately 180 confirmed volcanic eruptions, averaging once every 30 years. "We will also analyze newly discovered volcanic eruptions and study the actual situation of past volcanic eruptions, such as their scale and location," said Masayoshi Yamamoto, the chief researcher of the research team. This will help develop effective volcanic disaster prevention strategies
The research findings were published in the Dutch academic journal on June 30th.