As part of international collaboration mentioned in the mid-to-long term plan (in Japanese) of National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), joint research of seismic hazard assessment is in progress with Asia and Pacific region, where seismic activity is high, especially with China, South Korea, Taiwan, and New Zealand (NZ). We will contribute to seismic hazard assessment by sharing the lessons and knowledge of Japan, which experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, with the world. These backgrounds and activities are described below.
Participation in GEM
With a vision to create a world that is resilient to earthquakes by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), GEM (Global Earthquake Model) was formed in 2009 as international NPO organization.
As of 2022, in the 4th term, it consists of leading research institutes from around the world, private companies, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. NIED has been a member of steering committee of GEM since September 2012, and the seismic hazard assessment methods on Japan are being disseminated to the world through GEM.
GEM created the model of seismic hazard and risk assessment under the consensus of science, and in December 2018, GEM released digital “Global Seismic Hazard Map” and “Global Seismic Risk Map”.
To upgrade “Global Seismic Hazard Map”, NIED has researched more advanced evaluation methods collaborating with neighboring countries, and suggested the evaluation model that takes advantage of the characteristics of Asia and Pacific region.
GEM is currently working on creating a new “Global Seismic Hazard Map (version 2022)” (planned) and NIED is contributing by providing the latest seismic hazard assessment models.
For details of GEM, please see the site below.
Research exchange with Taiwan
More than 2,400 people died in the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, Great Earthquake (Mw7.6), and the destructive earthquakes such as 2016 Meinong Earthquake and the Guanshan-Chihshang Earthquakes in 2018, 2019, and 2022 have occurred continuously. Importance of seismic hazard and risk research is recognized by many experts in Taiwan.
Thus, NIED and TEM (Taiwan Earthquake Model) have started research exchanges since 2012 (Taoyuan in Taiwan) followed by workshops in 2013 (Sendai) and 2014 (Taipei). In 2015, 17 researchers of TEM visited NIED and had in-depth discussions with experts in the field. After that, seismic hazard map of Taiwan has been announced. We continuously hold the research exchange meeting in 2015 (Wellington), 2016 (Beppu), 2017 (Tainan), 2018 (Oamaru, New Zealand), 2019 (Toyako), and 2021 (Online).
For details of research exchange with Taiwan, please see the site below.
Research exchange with New Zealand
In New Zealand, the 2011 Christchurch earthquake (Mw6.1) caused 185 deaths and many buildings severely damaged. The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake (Mw7.8) ruptured over 20 surface faults in a 150 km range and it was described as “most complex earthquake ever studied”. NIED, GNS and U. Otago conducted a field survey of the near-fault strong motion of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
The research exchange between NIED and GNS have started since 2014 and followed by the workshop in 2015 (Wellington), We compared seismic hazard map of 3 countries (Taiwan-Japan-New Zealand) by unified method (Seismological Research Letters, Volume 87, Number 6). We continuously hold the research exchange meeting in 2016 (Beppu), 2017 (Tainan), 2018 (Oamaru, New Zealand), 2019 (Toyako), and 2021 (Online).
For details of research exchange with New Zealand, please see the site below.
Research exchange with Japan-China-Korea
From 2010 to 2013, “Seismic Hazard Assessment for the Next Generation Map” was conducted as part of a strategic cooperative program.
Through the 3 year research exchange, the three countries of Japan, China and South Korea shared their experiences and research on seismic hazard map creation, which helped clarify common problems and contribute to the advancement of the map creation in each country.
In particular, the study of hazard assessment before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake and research on the methodology of hazard assessment by Japan attracted attention from both China and South Korea. These activities are the first step toward the creation of seismic hazard maps in the Asian region, and since then research exchanges have been conducted between Japan and China as well as between Japan and South Korea.
For details of research exchanges between Japan, China and South Korea, please see the site below.