Aso Volcano
Introduction / Topography of the caldera / Growth history of Aso volcano
Volcanoes within the caldera and their rocks
Nakadake
Rocks of Aso volcano / Hot springs and groundwater
Eruptive activities
Surveillance and observation of activities
References
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Surveillance and observation of activities
Continuous observation of the Aso volcano started in 1928 as establishment of Volcano Research Institute ( current Volcanological Laboratory ) attached to Faculty of Science, Kyoto University followed by establishment of Aso Volcano Observatory as a branch of Kumamoto Meteorological Station ( current Aso Meteorological Station ). In the National Project on Prediction of Volcanic Eruption beginning in 1974, Aso volcano has been designated as one of the most important volcanoes for observation and research. In addition to the two organizations mentioned above, several national institutions and universities joined for surveillance and research. This map is prepared as a part of this project.
At the moment, 17 seismographs, 7 tiltmeters, and observations of terrestrial magnetism have been carried out in addition to geodetic surveys including leveling, ranging, and gravity, and others including electric resistance, heat, gas and hot spring. Volcanic tremor and earthquake observations ( 
Fig. 7 ) are also continuously monitored, and based on these data restricted areas are delineated. However, because of rather short history of those multi-faced and detailed observations, it cannot be said at the moment that forerunner phenomena of large hazardous eruption are satisfactorily caught.
Nakadake crater of Aso volcano is one of the peculiar places in the world in that the general public can come to look into the active crater. People can personally feel greatness of the nature, and as a field of scientific education it is an invaluable place. To safeguard general public from any hazards, development of eruption prediction as well as mitigation of hazards needs further efforts in the part of scientific observation and surveillance activities in the future.