Week 4 Mount Fuji Anna Vuong

In my study abroad trip to Japan, my host family and I decided to hike Mount Fuji. This hike seemed very important to them, since they do it every 5 years, so I decided to conduct a little online research so that I understand a little more about the history of the foundation on which I am about to walk. As I researched, my host sister also helped me understand the geological foundation of the mountain itself, which was more interesting than knowing when the first foreigner climbed and descended the volcano (it was in September 1868, by the way.) 

Around 100,000 years ago, lava flowed from a peak crater. Over time, lava, lapilli, and ash that came from reoccurring explosive eruptions, Mount Fuji came to be as we see it today for the past 10,000 years. Mount Fuji, still an active volcano is located in Japan, it is elevated about 3,370 ft above sea level. It is also known to be one of the highest peaks. Mount Fuji is located where it is now due to the fact that it is right on the corner of three tectonic plates: Eurasion plate, Filipino plate and a small section of the North American plate.  

 

Because all three of the plates push against each other, the corners that meet rise into a peak/mountain, or in this case a volcano.  

Fortunately, despite being active, Mt. Fuji has not erupted in the past 3 centuries. But, if it were to erupt now, it could threaten the lives of over 8 million people in Tokyo, a city that is 140 km away. From violent eruptions, volcanic ash is plummeted into our atmosphere. The ash can cover large distances, for miles and miles around, presenting itself as a hazard to the populations surrounding the area. In itself volcanic ash has poisonous gas, that can leave damaging health effects like respiratory problems, silicosis and more. 

Upon hearing this, I was feeling a little bit reluctant to hike the volcano. I expressed my worry to her: what if it explodes right now? Or worse: what if it exploded as we hiked the mountain? But my host sister reassured me that seismologists have created a way to “see” beneath our crust. They send “seismic noises” mimicking an ultrasound, in a sense, is to see when it is in critical condition.  

Now, I feel more confident to hike with my host family. My hope is that as we hike during the early morning, I hope to see the shadow that will be casted from the volcano and see it’s infamous symmetrical shadow at sunrise.