The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), led by President Hiroyuki Yamato, announces that it will conduct a survey voyage starting from September 20, 2024, in light of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred in 2024. This survey voyage will be conducted via chartered vessel.
This survey voyage follows the emergency survey voyages conducted on the “Shirase” research vessel in January and February 2024, which established and retrieved ocean bottom seismometers※1. The preliminary analysis results from these measurements (Reference (4)) revealed that earthquakes with mechanisms different from the main shock were occurring off the northeast coast of the Noto Peninsula. This upcoming voyage will continue from the fourth and fifth survey voyages conducted in June and early September 2024.
During this survey voyage, the already deployed ocean bottom seismometers will be retrieved, and additional ocean bottom seismometers will be deployed to accurately understand the trends of seismic activity and the mechanisms of earthquakes. The deployed ocean bottom seismometers are scheduled to be retrieved during a survey voyage planned for January 2025.
After retrieval, the obtained data will be analyzed in detail. The goal is to clarify the reality of the fault that caused this earthquake, the mechanisms of earthquake and tsunami generation, and to grasp the trends in seismic activity. The survey results will be reported to the Earthquake Research Committee of the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion and will also be published on the agency’s website and other platforms as necessary.
This survey voyage will be conducted using the budget allocated for fiscal year 2024, as decided by Cabinet approval on April 23, 2024.
Record
- ○ Charter Voyage Schedule
- From September 20, 2024 (Friday) to October 1, 2024 (Tuesday)
Niigata Port In and Out - * The schedule may change depending on weather conditions and the progress of the survey.
- ○ Survey Area
- Surrounding waters off the Noto Peninsula (Figure 1 reference)
※1
Ocean Bottom Seismograph (OBS):
An instrument that is installed on the sea floor by a vessel, capable of observing seismic waves for several months to about a year with sensors housed in a pressure-resistant container, storing data using recorders. The instrument can be recovered by the vessel after detaching the weight through acoustic communication and allowing it to float back up.
Figure 1. Planned locations for the installation and retrieval of ocean bottom seismometers (OBS)
(Reference) Press Release on Emergency Survey Voyage Conducted by “Shirase”
Contact for inquiries regarding this matter
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Marine Science and Technology Strategy Department, Public Relations Office