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Volume 50 Supplement 11-12

Special Issue: Ocean Hemisphere network Project (OHP)

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A new approach to geophysical real-time measurements on a deep-sea floor using decommissioned submarine cables

Earth, Planets and Space volume 50, pages 913–925 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to better understand earthquake generation, tectonics at plate boundaries, and better image the Earth’s deep structures, real-time geophysical measurements in the ocean are required. We therefore attempted to use decommissioned submarine cables, TPC-1 and TPC-2. An OBS was successfully linked to the TPC-1 on the landward slope of the Izu-Bonin Trench in 1997. The OBS detected co-seismic and gradual changes during a Mw 6.1 earthquake just below the station at 80 km depth on November 11, 1997. A pressure sensor co-registered a change equivalent to 50 cm sea-level change. This suggests a high possibility detecting silent earthquakes or earthquake precursors if they exist.

A multi-disciplinary geophysical station has been developed for deep-sea floor using TPC-2 since 1995. The station comprises eight instrument sets: broadband seismometers, geodetic measurements, hydrophone array, deep-sea digital camera, CTD, etc.

These activities are examples that decommissioned submarine cables can be great global resources for real-time cost-effective geophysical measurements on a deep-sea floor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi-cho, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan

    Junzo Kasahara & Toshinori Sato

  2. JAMSTEC (Japan Marine Science and Technology Center), 2-15 Natsushima, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan

    Hiroyasu Momma

  3. KDD R & D Laboratories, 2-1-15 Ohara, Kamifukuoka-shi, Saitama, 356-0003, Japan

    Yuichi Shirasaki

Authors
  1. Junzo Kasahara
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  2. Toshinori Sato
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  3. Hiroyasu Momma
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  4. Yuichi Shirasaki
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Correspondence to Junzo Kasahara.

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Kasahara, J., Sato, T., Momma, H. et al. A new approach to geophysical real-time measurements on a deep-sea floor using decommissioned submarine cables. Earth Planet Sp 50, 913–925 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352187

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