Relationship blossoms between GNS and NIED

A focused one-day workshop involved scientists from GNS Science, NIED, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), and the Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo (ERI) to support collaborative geophysical research on the Hikurangi subduction zone structure and comparative Nankai and Northeast Japan subduction zones.

“This workshop set the stage for conversations that we anticipate will blossom into new research proposals”, say Dan Bassett.  Dr. Henrys and Dr. Bassett also took the opportunity to visit facilities at NIED headquarters, including the monitoring room of the nationwide observation network for earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, together with a site visit to the large-scale rock friction laboratory.  

“Japan’s hazard monitoring networks are the global benchmark, and we were particularly excited to see the real time earthquake activity recorded on purpose-built seafloor cables, including the recently deployed cable observatory installed offshore southern Japan”, say Dr Henrys.

It is expected the new collaborative research between GNS and Japan agencies and Universities will help improve understanding of earthquake ruptures, ground motion shaking predictions, and tsunami generation in future events. GNS Science will host Japanese researchers next year for a reciprocal workshop.

This visit was made possible with a MBIE Catalyst Seeding grant (awarded to Dan Bassett, Brook Tozer, and Stuart Henrys). The visit also builds on long term Memorandum of Cooperation that GNS Science has signed with NIED, JAMSTEC, ERI and other Universities in Japan(external link).