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Bandaisan

Photo of this volcano
  • Japan
  • Stratovolcano
  • 1888 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 37.601°N
  • 140.072°E

  • 1816 m
    5958 ft

  • 283160
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: September 2012 (BGVN 37:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Mild, 45-second volcanic tremor in June 2012

Our previous report on Bandai (also called Bandai-san) discussed a significant increase in seismicity during 14-16 August 2000 (BGVN 25:08). However, no eruption resulted and no large change in GPS data was noted. The volcano is located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, about 220 km N of Tokyo (figure 2). This report notes that volcanic tremor was recorded in June 2012.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. A map of the major volcanoes of Japan. Bandai is just N of Tokyo. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Recent monthly reports of volcanic activity from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), translated into English, resumed in October 2010; the only recent report on Bandai was in June 2012. Thus, in this report, we lack JMA reports between January 2005 and May 2012 and only summarize activity during June 2012.

According to JMA, on 25 June 2012 volcanic tremor with a duration of 45 seconds was recorded, the first since 9 June 2009. No change in volcanic earthquakes, ground deformation, or fumarolic activity was observed. Volcanic earthquakes have remained at a low level at least through September 2012. A camera located at Kengamine (~7 km N of the summit) showed that gas emissions remained low, rising less than 100 m in height.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Otemachi, 1-3-4, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/).

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Bandaisan.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

06/1987 (SEAN 12:06) Earthquake swarm

11/1988 (SEAN 13:11) Increased seismicity

08/2000 (BGVN 25:08) Unprecedented increase in seismicity during 14-16 August

09/2012 (BGVN 37:09) Mild, 45-second volcanic tremor in June 2012




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


June 1987 (SEAN 12:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Earthquake swarm

An earthquake swarm began 16 June, with 155 events recorded that day by the seismograph 2 km SSE of the summit (table 1). Epicenters were mainly concentrated 10 km SW. Seismicity decreased to

Table 1. Daily number of felt earthquakes at Wakamatsu Observatory, 10 km W of the epicentral area of the Bandai swarm, June 1987.

Date Felt Events
16 Jun 1987 7
17 Jun 1987 2
18 Jun 1987 1
21 Jun 1987 2
23 Jun 1987 2

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).


November 1988 (SEAN 13:11) Citation IconCite this Report

Increased seismicity

Seismicity increased toward the end of November. A total of 188 events were recorded by the seismometer 1.8 km NNW of the summit, up sharply from the background level of ~20/month (figure 1).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Monthly number of recorded earthquakes at Bandai, 1965-88. Courtesy of JMA.

Information Contacts: JMA; AP; UPI.


August 2000 (BGVN 25:08) Citation IconCite this Report

Unprecedented increase in seismicity during 14-16 August

The last increase in seismicity at Bandai (located in the Fukushima prefecture about 20 km N of Tokyo) occurred in November 1988 (SEAN 13:11) when a total of 188 seismic events was recorded, up sharply from the background level of ~20 events/month. In contrast, at the same site up to 416 seismic events were recorded in one day when seismicity increased during 14-16 August 2000.

On the afternoon of 16 August the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a volcano advisory for Bandai. An abnormally high number of earthquakes, including felt earthquakes and volcanic tremor, was recorded at the A site seismometer 1.8 km SSE of the summit. The increase began on 14 August when 179 seismic events were recorded; this was the greatest seismicity to occur at the volcano since seismic monitoring began in 1965. On 14 August two of the four M 2 earthquakes that occurred were felt, and a volcanic tremor event lasted for 31 seconds. On 15 August the level of seismicity increased to 416 events, and two volcanic-tremor events lasted 40 and 55 seconds, respectively. At 2304 on 15 August a M 2.9 earthquake occurred, which was the largest event in the series. As of 1400 on 16 August there were 41 events. On 18 August a climbing ban was placed on the volcano. Due to the abnormally high level of seismicity, scientists monitored closely for signs of an impending eruption. Scientists observed no large change in GPS data or images from the monitoring camera. On 28 September officials lifted the climbing ban but warned climbers that an eruption could still occur.

Information Contacts: Volcano Research Center - Earthquake Research Institute (VRC-ERI), University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032 Japan (URL: http://www.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/VRC/index_E.html); Maki Kazuo, JMA-Sendai, 1-3-4 Ote-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan; The Japan Times.


September 2012 (BGVN 37:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Mild, 45-second volcanic tremor in June 2012

Our previous report on Bandai (also called Bandai-san) discussed a significant increase in seismicity during 14-16 August 2000 (BGVN 25:08). However, no eruption resulted and no large change in GPS data was noted. The volcano is located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, about 220 km N of Tokyo (figure 2). This report notes that volcanic tremor was recorded in June 2012.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. A map of the major volcanoes of Japan. Bandai is just N of Tokyo. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Recent monthly reports of volcanic activity from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), translated into English, resumed in October 2010; the only recent report on Bandai was in June 2012. Thus, in this report, we lack JMA reports between January 2005 and May 2012 and only summarize activity during June 2012.

According to JMA, on 25 June 2012 volcanic tremor with a duration of 45 seconds was recorded, the first since 9 June 2009. No change in volcanic earthquakes, ground deformation, or fumarolic activity was observed. Volcanic earthquakes have remained at a low level at least through September 2012. A camera located at Kengamine (~7 km N of the summit) showed that gas emissions remained low, rising less than 100 m in height.

Information Contacts: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Otemachi, 1-3-4, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8122, Japan (URL: http://www.jma.go.jp/).

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 11 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1888 Jul 15 - 1888 Jul 15 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Kobandai, RE1 tephra
1888 Jul 15 - 1888 Jul 15 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 13 Events for Episode 1 at Kobandai, RE1 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity violent, strong, or large
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before. Large.
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) After.
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1888 Jul 15    - - - - Fatalities
1888 Jul 15    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1938 May 9    - - - - Fatalities

1808 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Numanotaira
1808 (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Numanotaira

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1808
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1787 (in or before) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1787 (in or before) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity Uncertain
1787
(in or before)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1767 ± 16 years ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Mt. Hanzawa (Bandai foothills)
1767 ± 16 years - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Mt. Hanzawa (Bandai foothills)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow Uncertain

[ 1719 (in or before) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1719 (in or before) - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"

[ 1611 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1611 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow

0806 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode O-Bandai, RE2 tephra
0806 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at O-Bandai, RE2 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow Uncertain
0806    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

0550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Numanotaira, RE3 tephra
0550 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Numanotaira, RE3 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche

1800 BCE ± 1250 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Numanotaira, RE4 tephra
1800 BCE ± 1250 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Numanotaira, RE4 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

3850 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode HA-1.5 tephra
3850 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at HA-1.5 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

4650 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode HA-1.6 tephra
4650 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at HA-1.6 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

5050 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode HA-1.7 tephra
5050 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at HA-1.7 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash

6350 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode HA-1.8 tephra
6350 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at HA-1.8 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity

7450 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode HA-2.01 tephra
7450 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at HA-2.01 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Bandaisan.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Bandaisan.

Photo Gallery

Lake Hibara in the distance was created in 1888 when the partial collapse of Ko-Bandai volcano produced a large debris avalanche that traveled 11 km, nearly to the far end of the lake. The area in front of the lake and the islands in the lake are part of the debris avalanche deposit. The steep wall in the foreground is part of the back headwall of the avalanche scarp.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).
Collapse of the summit of Kobandaisan peak during a phreatic eruption at Bandaisan volcano in 1888 created the 1.5 x 2 km scarp seen here. The lake in the foreground was formed on the irregular surface of a 1.5 km3 debris avalanche deposit. The avalanche buried several villages and blocked river drainages, forming several new lakes. Ashfall from the eruption reached the Pacific coast of Honshu.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).
The steep topography at the right is the eastern rim of a scarp created by the 1888 collapse of Koandaisan, one of a group of cones forming Bandaisan. The two lakes in the distance, Onogawa (left) and Akimoto (right), formed after the resulting debris avalanche blocked river drainages. The caldera walls expose stratigraphy of pyroclastic deposits overlain by lava flows.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).
Akahaniyama to the right is one of several cones that form Bandaisan, seen here above rice fields N of Lake Inawashiro. The forested ridge in the left foreground is part of an earlier Pleistocene debris avalanche deposit.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).
This massive boulder (top photo) was carried down the Biwasawa valley on the east side of Bandai volcano in a lahar during an eruption in 1888. The deposit covers the broad floor of the Nagase valley. In addition to this lahar, the 1888 eruption included a pyroclastic flow on the east side and a catastrophic debris avalanche that swept over villages to the north of the volcano. The bottom photo is taken from the same location a century later.

Top photo by Fukushima Minposha Newspaper, 1888; bottom photo by Lee Siebert, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 3 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 101500 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 113860 Hypersthene Andesite -- --
NMNH 113885 Hypersthene Andesite -- --
External Sites