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Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016 Vol.125 No.3

2016 Vol.125 No.3

Komezuka Scoria Cone at Aso Volcano

The Komezuka scoria cone (370-380 m in basal diameter; 80 m in height), located in the northwestern part of the post-caldera central cones of Aso Volcano, southwestern Japan, was formed by strombolian eruptions 3300 years ago, and is one of the youngest volcanoes in the Aso caldera. Komezuka, which means rice mound, is named after a legend in which Takeiwatatsunomikoto, the main god of the Aso Shrine, skimmed rice from the mound by hand and distributed it among poor people. The scoria cone is a famous part of the representative landscape of Aso Volcano, because of the beautiful grassed shape of the cone. However, several cracks were formed around the crater rim by the Kumamoto earthquake (Mj 7.3) on April 16, 2016 (arrows of photo taken after the earthquake). The earthquake triggered many shallow landslides on the slope of the Janoo cinder cone located about 1.5 km west of Komezuka (Fig. 13 of Pictorial 1). In contrast, the beautiful shape of the Komezuka scoria cone was preserved, although there was a small displacement due to the formation of cracks around the crater rim. The Aso caldera wall, which is called somma, can be seen in the background. The northern caldera wall ranges in height from 300 to 450 m, and has a flattened top because the Aso ignimbrites completely fill topographic lows around the northern caldera rim. Several landslides occurred on steep slopes at the northwestern to western caldera walls due to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.

(Photograph & Explanation: Yasuo MIYABUCHI; May 1, 2016)


Review Article

Applications of Terrestrial Laser Scanning in Geomorphology

Yuichi S. HAYAKAWA and Takashi OGUCHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 299.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.299

Original Articles

Geology of the Paleogene Miike Coalfield in the Ariake Sea Area and Its Litho-biostratigraphic Correlation with Paleogene Coalfields in Northwestern Kyushu, Japan

Takashi IGUCHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 325.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.325

Age Spectra of Detrital Zircons from Shallow Marine Cretaceous in Southern Kanto, SW Japan: Change in Composition of Fore-arc Sandstones in Response to the Rejuvenation of Provenance Crust

Hiroki NAKAHATA, Yukio ISOZAKI, Yukiyasu TSUTSUMI and Naoya IWAMOTO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 353.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.353

Short Articles

Agricultural Practices and Roles of Elderly Farmers in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture

Madoka UEMURA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 381.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.381

Depositional Environmental Changes Supporting Holocene Subsidence Trend along the Southern Sanriku Coast, Northeast Japan: Sedimentary Facies and Depositional Ages of Core Sediments Obtained from the Tsuya Plain 

Yuichi NIWA, Toshihiko SUGAI and Yoshiaki MATSUSHIMA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 395.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.395

Letters

Formative Age of Wakimisaki-Beachrock, Designated a Natural Monument by Nagasaki Prefecture

Kunio OMOTO and Yushi ITO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 409.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.409

Landslide Disaster Triggered by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in and around Minamiaso Village, Western Part of Aso Caldera, Southwestern Japan

Yasuo MIYABUCHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), 421.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.421

Pictorials

1:Severe Damage Caused by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, SW Japan

Yasuo MIYABUCHI

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), iii.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.iii

2:Characteristics and Calibrated Age of Beachrock Developed on Wakimisaki, Nagasaki Peninsula

Kunio OMOTO and Yushi ITO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2016, 125(3), vii.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.125.vii