"Sakurajima" - one of the world's most active volcanos (only 2.3km from my city!)

[Skygod44]

Today, I realised that she deserves her own thread.
Written 桜島 in Japanese.
Over the millennia, she's ejected volcanic boulders as big as houses, as far as the Korean Peninsula, 400+ kilometres to the north.

This shot was at 2:33pm today, with volcanic ash rising 3+ kilometers into the sky.


At 3:54pm, I was able to drive higher above the city to get this shot.
She hadn't stopped erupting all that time, and from before the first image, too.

Due to ash in the atmosphere, I had to enhance the shot, but still, you can imagine the energy which was continuing to spit out of her after I got home at nearly 5pm.

Of course, if any of you make it to Southern Japan, you can see her for yourself. Up close and personal!

But when I get the chance to share more images of this unique imbalance between nature and mankind, I'll try to offer new views and styles of photo, for your viewing pleasure.

Cheers for now,
Simon

PS If all goes silent from Skygod44, you'll know why!

 

[Dennis]

Wow - spectacular but in a frightening way when you live that close!

Dennis.

 

[Skygod44]

Wow - spectacular but in a frightening way when you live that close!

Dennis.

Thanks, and yes!
But you get used to it.

Sakurajima was an island...
...but from 12th January 1914 for one and a half years, an ash and pyroclastic eruption spewed approximately 1½ cubic kilometres of lava into the surrounding waters, connecting the island to the Eastern peninsula.

You can drive across the magma now, on what they cleverly named "Magma Road".

 

[KD_Reno]

Awesome shots. I was in Japan for a birding trip in February. Earthquakes and volcanoes were always in the back of my mind, but all we saw were wisps of vapor from a couple.

Any effect on flights to/from Kagoshima?

 

[joayne]

I was just going to ask, as I read that Sakurajima is the volcano and the name of the island.
So it is now connected to the mainland? That is really interesting.. and a bit unsettling.

​

 

[Skygod44]

Awesome shots. I was in Japan for a birding trip in February. Earthquakes and volcanoes were always in the back of my mind, but all we saw were wisps of vapor from a couple.

Any effect on flights to/from Kagoshima?

Hi Ken,
I'm glad to hear you weren't affected during your trip, but today, yes, she's causing a whole heap of trouble.

I've had to enhance the images, due to the volume of ash in the air now, but all the ferries crossing to the peninsula she's on are cancelled.
And the airport, 45 minutes north is shut down too.




What will tomorrow bring, I wonder.

 

[Skygod44]

I was just going to ask, as I read that Sakurajima is the volcano and the name of the island.
So it is now connected to the mainland? That is really interesting.. and a bit unsettling.

​

Yes Joayne, it's now been connected on the east side to the mainland since 1915.

I think we're all hoping the western peninsula doesn't feel jealous!

 

[KD_Reno]

Hi Ken,
I'm glad to hear you weren't affected during your trip, but today, yes, she's causing a whole heap of trouble.

I've had to enhance the images, due to the volume of ash in the air now, but all the ferries crossing to the peninsula she's on are cancelled.
And the airport, 45 minutes north is shut down too.
View attachment 160564

View attachment 160565

What will tomorrow bring, I wonder.

Part of me wishes we had seen an eruption somewhere, but this one would have severely disrupted the trip. Kyushu and Hokkaido had most of our top target birds, so getting in and out of the airport was important. I hope it settles down before causing too much harm.

I went back through my trip pics, and I think these show Sakurajima in a calmer mood. Not great images, but more interesting now.

 

[Skygod44]

Part of me wishes we had seen an eruption somewhere, but this one would have severely disrupted the trip. Kyushu and Hokkaido had most of our top target birds, so getting in and out of the airport was important. I hope it settles down before causing too much harm.

I went back through my trip pics, and I think these show Sakurajima in a calmer mood. Not great images, but more interesting now.
View attachment 160615View attachment 160616

Thanks Ken.
Yes, eruptions would have been impressive, but ruined your plans.

And it's amazing for me to see your old photos. Thanks for going through images from your trip.

In that second photo, I can see where I lived when I first moved here in 2004.


Thanks again,
Simon

 

[KD_Reno]

8

Thanks Ken.
Yes, eruptions would have been impressive, but ruined your plans.

And it's amazing for me to see your old photos. Thanks for going through images from your trip.

In that second photo, I can see where I lived when I first moved here in 2004.


Thanks again,
Simon

Well, the photos are only three months old. They did end up with a bit of a vintage look due to bad lighting and a quick attempt at processing. The first was taken at mid-day, looking south, when we stopped at the Kirishima Shrine for a bit of culture. Not at all ideal for a landscape shot, I was there and the mountain was there. The second was from the plane just before sunset that same day. Looking at Google Maps in satellite view, I think it was from close to the same spot, but from a much higher vantage point, 30-35 km from the mountain. Really makes me appreciate how big that ash cloud is.

 

[Skygod44]

Well, the photos are only three months old. ...//...

You're kidding
You were here, but you didn't contact me? That's a pity, as I'm yet to meet any POTN/FoPFers in person.

Really makes me appreciate how big that ash cloud is.

Oh yes. Absolutely right.
It looked massive yesterday.
But...
...I've just popped out for milk and bread at my local supermarket.
The rainy season was "Officially Started" by the Japanese Meteorological Office last night, and the weather-gods have obligingly put tropical rain storms over us, so I can barely see the hills ½km away!
Thus, I've no idea if she's still erupting.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[KD_Reno]

You're kidding
You were here, but you didn't contact me? That's a pity, as I'm yet to meet any POTN/FoPFers in person.

Oh yes. Absolutely right.
It looked massive yesterday.
But...
...I've just popped out for milk and bread at my local supermarket.
The rainy season was "Officially Started" by the Japanese Meteorological Office last night, and the weather-gods have obligingly put tropical rain storms over us, so I can barely see the hills ½km away!
Thus, I've no idea if she's still erupting.

Cheers for now,
Simon

Would have loved to meet you. But we were on an organized birding tour with targets all over Japan, so the itinerary was pretty tight. A bit like being a hostage taken from one hideout to another. I think it would be nice to go back on our own, but our schedule is full until well after July 25, so I guess that won't happen.

 

[Skygod44]

Four days now.
Although like this, the ash cloud isn't going as high...
...for now

Taken from a rooftop carpark, where Sofia and I had a bite to eat, watching the eruptions, before going to a concert hall where Missus Skygod mk3 did some tra-la-la-ing.

 

[K9Kirk]

I'm always perplexed as to why people choose to live in a barren desert or close to a volcanic mountain.

 

[Skygod44]

I'm always perplexed as to why people choose to live in a barren desert or close to a volcanic mountain.

There are people who live ON the volcano, too.

The soil is in remarkably fertile, so farmers are plentiful.

And if you build a new house, the land is very cheap, and you won't have to pay land tax.
This last two equates to a saving of around $400,000 over the typical 25 years of a mortgage, compared with the peninsula where I live, across the bay.

Do these answer your thoughts?
(It's mostly about the money)

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

She's calmed down for now, but appears to have an unsettling disturbance all around her.
Best shown in an almost painting-like B&W.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[K9Kirk]

There are people who live ON the volcano, too.

The soil is in remarkably fertile, so farmers are plentiful.

And if you build a new house, the land is very cheap, and you won't have to pay land tax.
This last two equates to a saving of around $400,000 over the typical 25 years of a mortgage, compared with the peninsula where I live, across the bay.

Do these answer your thoughts?
(It's mostly about the money)

Cheers for now,
Simon

Life has it's risks, no matter what you do. Hide in a cave to escape danger and it might collapse on you, heh! I was thinking about how the pyroclastic ash formed that land bridge to the mainland and how it made it easier for the next pyroclastic event to make it across. Not that it couldn't without it, they've been recorded to travel as much as 60 km across water because of it's suspended, super heated vapor form. I wish everyone there the best of luck!

 

[Nick5]

We are flying into Tokyo Saturday. Hopefully she will remain calm for everyone.

 

[Skygod44]

Life has it's risks, no matter what you do. Hide in a cave to escape danger and it might collapse on you, heh!

Exactly right, imho.
Mitigating obvious risks while living as full a life as possible seems well-balanced to me.

I was thinking about how the pyroclastic ash formed that land bridge to the mainland and how it made it easier for the next pyroclastic event to make it across.

Ah now that's interesting...
The main, active crater ("south peak") partially collapsed a handful of years ago to the east. So if she blew again, big-style, it "probably" wouldn't come towards the city, but instead, thicken the existing "Magma Road".

Not that it couldn't without it, they've been recorded to travel as much as 60 km across water because of it's suspended, super heated vapor form.

This, I didn't know.

I wish everyone there the best of luck!

Me too.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

We are flying into Tokyo Saturday. Hopefully she will remain calm for everyone.

Have a great trip...
But Tokyo is 1hr 45m north-east of me, by plane so I think you'll be ok.

Where will you visit?