Scientists have been taking greater interest in potential natural calamities in and around Japan of late, especially after the Great Tohoku Earthquake of March 2011. Ever since the earthquake, scientists have been observing the massive volcano known as Mt Fuji on Japan’s Honshu island for the signs of volcanic activity. In the month of September 2012, a report stated that Mt. Fuji’s magma chamber has increased to a worrisome 1.6 mega-pascals, which is estimated to be higher than when it last erupted.
Masaki Kimura, a retired professor from Ryukyu University said that this is another recent phenomena which has indicated that the eruption of Mt Fuji is likely. The volcano should have erupted in 2011 itself with a four year margin error, 2015 could be the year for it to erupt.
Before an eruption occurs, the pressure in the magma chamber becomes stronger than the rock containing it and the rock opens into a volcanic eruption. Mt Fuji itself was formed in the same manner and the pressure is expected to increase in the magma chamber due to the earthquakes.
The earlier volcanic eruption of Mt Fuji in the year 1707 was reportedly triggered by a massive earthquake, which occurred near Osaka a month earlier. Prof Kimura also said that apart from the Tohoku earthquake, there has been an increase in seismic activity around the mountain, especially on the northeast side.
