The tallest volcano in Europe, Italy's Mount Etna, and the world's most active volcano, Kilauea in Hawaii, erupting again.

Japan is stepping up its volcano research that trails far behind its advanced studies on earthquakes despite being home to 111 active volcanoes, about 10 percent of the global total.

Japan is crisscrossed with 111 active volcanoes. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is responsible for monitoring volcanic activity and providing related disaster preparedness information.

The "ring," as NOAA says, extends "from the southern tip of South America, along the west coast of North America, across the Bering Strait, down through Japan and into New Zealand." Its volcanoes ...