IAVCEI 2013 & SVRC

Sorry for the lack of updates recently - I can't make any excuse other than my laziness, really. I could claim that my laziness is brought on by the heat here, I guess, which is probably true...

Anyway, the first of two posts will be a quick collection of photos from IAVCEI 2013 and my visit to Sakurajima Volcano Research Center (where all of my data comes from!).

Kagoshima is definitely a city well-prepared.

The people are so complacent - Sakurajima erupts again, life continues...

IAVCEI 2013 conference hall (the main one, anyway).

Signage.

My office away from home!

An array of very old (but still functioning) smoke-drum seismometers.

Modern seismometers - or at least, where their data is received.
These detect earthquakes and tremor within and near the volcano.

The central system which receives and processes all seismic
(earthquake) and ground deformation data.

Old recording equipment at the Harutayama field observatory.
The blue box is a CO2 monitor telling us if it is safe to enter the tunnel

The Harutayama tunnel, containing an array of ground deformation sensors
(tilt and strain). These tell us if the volcano is changing shape, usually due to
magma or gases moving around inside.

Broadband seismometers and a borehole tiltmeter in the
Harutayama tunnel.

GPS (also detects ground deformation) and weather observation
station at Harutayama.

A very, very old smoke-drum seismometer (still working!).

An original smoke-drum barometer - this has since been replaced by
electronic equipment but also still works. It detects changes in air
pressure, such as shock waves caused by volcanic explosions.

Cloudy view of the summit region from Harutayama observatory
(about 400m elevation - the summit is about 1100m).

Riding Sakurajima

So this morning I eschewed the IAVCEI organised field trip and instead rented a mountain bike, jumped on the ferry to Sakurajima and made my own adventure.




I won't write any more; rather, I'll let the photos do the talking. I think they should convey the story pretty well. Needless to say, it turned out to be one of the more unusual rides I've ever done...

IAVCEI 2013: Ash & Ribs

A couple of gems from the IAVCEI 2013 conference in Kagoshima.

Firstly, volcanic ash fall is so common in the city that where most cities have trash collection points, the government here has also set up ASH collection points. Residents bag ash on their property and leave it here to be taken away. Ash is prevelant everywhere, staining the roofs of people's cars and in all the little nooks and crannies on the streets.

Ash collection point on the main street

Kagoshima is famous not only for its resident volcano, but also for black pork, beef and sweet potatoes. I visited a steakhouse and paid for the Kagoshima Black Pork Spare Ribs. Some meals are special; this was utterly transcendent. Without a doubt one of the top 3 meals I've ever eaten.

Also, and somewhat hilariously, a 'medium' beer turned out to be 800ml.

I was hungry after a day of working registration at IAVCEI. No more!

The Japanese know ribs!

I realise I haven't mentioned the conference at all, but that's because I'm helping out with the organisation at the moment (and again tomorrow). Aside from running into several people I know from years past, not much has happened. I'll be engaging in the symposiums on 23rd and 24th, so that's when the real action will happen.

More to come soon!