Activity Report of Open Application Program 2022 vol.5 (Course B)
Joint Research Aimed at Disaster Reduction in the Areas of the Pacific Rim Where Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanic Eruptions Occur Frequently
The Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
Report from Professor Masataka Kinoshita
An internship program was held for three weeks from August 27, 2022, to September 16, with eight students from Asian countries participating in person and one student online in the JST Sakura Science Exchange Program. The program was successfully completed and the program was meaningful for both the students and the host faculty.
■ Arrival−Start of Research
Eight students from India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia arrived safely in Japan on August 27, and they had an orientation (greetings from Director Satake, a briefing on the outline of ERI by Kinoshita and International Office) and a lab tour of the Earthquake Research Institute on August 29.
During their stay, the students engaged in their own research under the supervision of their host faculty members. The research themes were as follows: "Land Subsidence Analysis in Northern India," "Excitation and Seasonal of Infragravity Waves Recorded by Ocean Bottom Seismometers in the Northern Nankai Trough," "Detecting of Micro−Earthquakes in Korean Peninsula from Developing of Machine Learning Model," "Integrating Strain Rates into Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis: Case of Sumatra, Indonesia," "General Study to Indicate the Relationship between Overpressure and Slow Slip Earthquake through Velocity Data in Western Nankai Trough," " Focal Mechanism of Earthquakes on the Great Sumatra Fault (GSF), Indonesia from 1976−2020," "Enhansing Waveform Quality Using Deep Denoiser for Effective Earthquake Detection in TokyoMetropolitan Area," " Active Fault Line Mapping at Kundasan and Tambunan, Sabah, Malaysia," (online participant) Seismic Velocity Structure of Seismic Gap in Longmenshan Fault Zone Based on Ambient Noise Tomography."
■ A Visit to Miraikan: the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (September 3)
They visited Miraikan: The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and had an opportunity to experience cutting−edge science in Japan.
■ Excursion to Shirane and Asama (September 11 to 12)
They went on a bus tour to Mt. Shirane and Mt. Asama. (Course: September 11: Nagano station, Zenkoji Temple, Mt.Shirane, Sesshogawara, and Kusatsu Onsen (overnight stay)/September 12: Kusatsu Onsen, Kambara Kannondo, Onioshidashi Park, Asama Volcano Observatory of ERI, Shiraito Falls, Karuizawa)
After arriving at Nagano station, they visited Zenkoji Temple and Shukubo. After observing the terrain around Mt. Shirane from the observatory of the Shiga Kusatsu Kogen Route, they walked around Yumiike Pond near Yugama. Then, Associate Professor Fukashi Maeno of Volcano Eruption Research Center gave a commentary on the volcanic activity and volcanic eruptions of Mt. Shirane at Sesshogawara. At the end of the first day, they visited Yubatake, which is located in the center of Kusatsu Onsen, via the hot spring promenade in Nishinokawara Park.
On the second day, a geo−guide explained to them about the great damage to Kambara, Tsumagoi−mura in Gunma Prefecture, caused by the Eruption of Asama volcano in 1783. At Onioshidashi Park and Asama Volcano Observatory of Earthquake Research Institute, Associate Professor Maeno and a doctoral student of his laboratory explained about the eruption, lava, and outcrop of Mt. Asama. Finally, they visited Shiraito Falls and returned to Tokyo. During the two−day program, the participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with Japanese culture and nature, as well as experience Japan's cutting−edge volcano research.
■ Poster presentation and certificate award ceremony (September 15)
The results of the research were presented at the poster presentation, and the completion certificate was awarded by the director of the Earthquake Research Institute at the certificate award ceremony that followed.
After completing the three−week program, the eight students left Japan on September 16.