A re-assessment of historical records pertaining to activity of Mt. Baekdu (Paektu, Tianchi) volcano

Abstract

Abstract This study re-assesses the historical records pertaining to activity of Mt. Baekdu according to volcanic phenomena. We categorized volcanic phenomena into five categories: rumbling, atmospheric abnormality, ash rain, ash cloud and phenomenon sightings, and investigated historical records (in Chinese) for each phenomenon and identified their volcanological implications. Among the volcanic phenomena, ash rain had the most records, and in particular, Goryeosa recorded the ash rain phenomenon 56 times. And more than 90 volcanic eruptions were discovered from the Millennium Eruption from November 3, 946 AD to February 7, 947 AD, most of which were either Plinian or Vulcanian eruptions with volcanic ash dispersed into the regions surrounding the volcano creating fallout ash. Based on the historical eruptions, eruption precursors, and volcanic unrest of the volcano between 2002 and 2006, Mt. Baekdu is regarded as an active volcano that has the potential to erupt. Therefore, in order to mitigate the hazard caused by the eruption of Mt. Baekdu, it is necessary to analyse the historical eruption records of Mt. Baekdu and to understand the characteristics of the eruptions through this analyzation.