Satellite imagery shows possible new craters

Jan 27, 2018 | News On Japan

Jan 27, 2018 (NHK) - NHK has learned that satellite imagery shows possible newly formed craters on a volcano in Japan that erupted on Tuesday.

Private-sector land survey company PASCO analyzed a video of Mount Kusatsu-Shirane taken by a German satellite on Wednesday. The mountain is in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

The video shows a line of multiple holes near Kagamiike pond on Motoshirane peak, where the eruption occurred.

The depressions are located about 500 meters north of the pond and extend about 220 meters in a line that runs almost east-west. Each is roughly 10 to 15 meters in diameter.

The firm says the holes are believed to be newly formed craters as they were not visible in footage taken 2 years ago.

Another possible crater was spotted around 300 meters west of the row across a valley. The company says the hollow is only 100 meters or so from a ski lift system.

University of Tokyo professor emeritus Toshitsugu Fujii says the holes are undoubtedly craters made by the eruption.

He says the volcano needs to be monitored closely as the formation of the new craters in a wide area indicates they may have resulted from different eruption mechanisms.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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