Estimating the Source of Floating Pumice Found near Torishima Island,
Japan: A Back-Tracking Drift Simulation Approach
Abstract
Monitoring and detecting marine volcanic activities are key for
scientific understanding and disaster prevention. However, this is
difficult because they are hidden under water. Near Torishima Island in
the Izu Islands, Japan, intensified seismic activity was observed during
October 2023, including a mysterious tsunami-triggering earthquake on
October 8 (UTC), which was considered to be linked to a volcanic
activity. On October 20, 2023, aerial surveys confirmed an 80-km stretch
of floating pumice near Torishima Island. This study conducted a
Lagrangian back-tracking drift simulation using the ocean current data
and surface wind data to trace the origin of the pumice while clarifying
the theoretical basis of Lagrangian back-tracking from the Bayesian
perspective. Results indicate that the pumice drifted southward from
around extensional back-arc basins near Myojinsho Reef and Sumisujima
Island approximately 3–5 days before its discovery. These findings
are consistent with independent observations such as biological traces
and the geochemical characteristics of sampled floating pumice, which is
considered identical to that found on October 20 by an airplane. This
indicates the presence of unknown volcanic activity around back-arc
basins west of the major active volcanic zone. This study demonstrates
the utility of combining drift simulations with geochemical and
biological data to identify the sources of marine volcanic events,
particularly in regions where direct observations are limited. The
results of this study contribute to our understanding of volcanic
mechanisms and their potential hazards.