Latest Issue

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022 Vol.131 No.6

2022 Vol.131 No.6

Hot Spring Issuing at Fushime Beach, Yamagawa, Ibusuki-city, Kagoshima Prefecture and Kaimon-dake Volcano

In the western half of the Ata caldera, located at the mouth of Kagoshima Bay, topographic landscapes related to volcanic activity after the Pleistocene epoch of the Quaternary, such as the crater lakes of Lake Ikeda and Unagi pond, can be observed. Hot springs and steaming fields, represented by Ibusuki hot spring, are also distributed in this area. The photo shows boiling water issuing at a sand beach in the Fushime hydrothermal area, which can be observed only at low tide. The adjacent cliff, comprising Ikeda pyroclastic sediments, was formed 6300 BP when Lake Ikeda erupted (Kawabe and Sakaguchi, 2005). Various studies have been done related to development of the Yamagawa geothermal plant in the Fushime area, where hydrothermal water at 330℃ was recovered from a depth of 2000 m (e.g., Yoshimura and Ito, 1994). Primary hydrothermal water in this area was formed through a reaction with seawater at that temperature, and its water chemistry was changed during the ascending path by dilution with subareal fresh groundwater and subsequent mineral precipitation (e.g., Okada et al., 2000). Located near the hot spring are municipal public and sand steam baths, as well as an abandoned salt field, where hot spring water was used to make table salt through condensation. Behind the issuing hot spring can be seen Mount Kaimon volcano, which last erupted in 885 AD. This area is one of the best for experiencing the reality of active volcanoes and geothermal energy, and for undertaking research on geology and geochemistry.


(Photograph & Explanation: Harue MASUDA)


References

[Kawabe, S. and Sakaguchi K. (2005): Geological Map 1/50,000 “Kaimon-dake”. Geological Survery of Japana, AIST.]

Okada, H., Yasuda, Y., Yagi, M. and Kai, K. (2000): Geology and fluid chemistry of the Fushime geothermal field, Kyushu, Japan. Geothermics, 29, 279-311.

[Yoshimura, Y. and Ito, T. (1994): Exploration and development of the Fushime geothermal field, Kyushu, Japan. Resource Geology, 44, 315-330. (in Japanese with English abstract)]



Special Issue: Present Situation of Hot Spring and Geothermal Energy Studies in Japan

Overview of the Special Issue “Present Situation of Hot Spring and
 Geothermal Energy Studies in Japan” and “At the Cutting Edge of Hot Spring Studies:
 Understanding the Water Cycle in the Lithosphere and the Deep Earth,”
 Which Are Joint Special Volumes of Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi)
 and Chikyukagaku (Geochemistry)

Harue MASUDA and Jun-ichiro ISHIBASHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 565.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.565

Preface for the Special Issue “Present Situation of Hot Spring and
 Geothermal Energy Studies in Japan” and “At the Cutting Edge of Hot Spring Studies:
 Understanding the Water Cycle in the Lithosphere and the Deep Earth,”
 Which Are Joint Special Volumes of Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi)
 and Chikyukagaku (Geochemistry)

Harue MASUDA and Jun-ichiro ISHIBASHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 569.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.569

From Hot Springs to Deep-seated Fluids:
 History of Hot Spring Studies from the Viewpoints
 of Energy and Material Circulations in the Solid Earth (Review Article)

Harue MASUDA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 573.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.573

Volcanic Activity of Usu Volcano and Fluctuations of Groundwater Level,
 Temperature, and Chemical Composition of Thermal Water
 at Toyako Onsen, Hokkaido, Japan (Review Article)

Tomo SHIBATA, Ryo TAKAHASHI and Fujio AKITA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 585.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.585

Geochemical Exploration: Application of Fluid Geochemistry
 to the Utilization of Geothermal Energy (Review Article)

Saki TSUTSUMI and Jun-ichiro ISHIBASHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 597.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.597

A Review of Evaluation Studies on Suitable Areas in Japan
 for Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Systems (Review Article)

Mayumi YOSHIOKA and Youhei UCHIDA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 609.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.609

Acid Rivers in Volcanic Regions and Efforts to Improve Their Water Quality
 (Review Article)

Yoshikazu KIKAWADA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 625.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.625

Exploring Uncultured Thermophilic Archaea Hidden in Terrestrial Hot Springs
 (Review Article)

Wipoo PRASITWUTTISAK and Katsunori YANAGAWA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2022, 131(6), 647.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.131.647