HOKUDAN INTERNATIONAL
SYMPOSIUM AND SCHOOL
ON ACTIVE FAULTING
The Kobe earthquake five year later--the frontier of active fault research
Call for Participation
in Hokudan town- Awaji Island (Japan)
Right on the source of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake
17-26 January, 2000
ORGANIZATION
Organizing Committee
President:
Masao KOKUBO [Mayor of Hokudan Town]
Vice Presidents:
Daniela PANTOSTI [Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica, Rome: ILP II-5]
Tokihiko MATSUDA [Nansei Gakuen Univ.]
Committee Members:
Shigeru SAKAI [President, Hokudan Board of Education]
Atsumasa OKADA [Kyoto University]
Alan HULL [New Zealand Ministry of Research, Sciences and Technology]
Yoshihiro KINUGASA [Tokyo Institute of Technology]
Operation Committee:
Director
Takashi NAKATA [Hiroshima University] Members:
Koichi Idaka [Deputy Mayor, Hokudan Town]
Koichi NAKATANI and Hajime MIYAMOTO [Hokudan Town]
Atsumasa OKADA [Kyoto University]
Noboru CHIDA [Oita University]
Shigehiro KATO [Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Natural History]
Koji OKUMURA [Hiroshima University]
Kenji SATAKE [Geological Survey of Japan]
Hiroyuki TSUTSUMI [Kyoto University]
Secretariat:
c/o Koji Okumura
Faculty of Letters, Hiroshima University
Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8522 Hiroshima, Japan
kojiok@ipc.hiroshima-u.ac.jp or kojiok@gsj.go.jp
Fax: +81-824-240320 Phone: +81-824-246657
Sponsors
Hokudan Town, Hokudan Board of Education
ILP II-5 "Earthquake recurrence through time"
ILP II-2 "World Map of Active Faults"
Co-sponsors
Geological Survey of Japan
The Science Council of Japan, Liaison Committee on Quaternary Research
With support of:
Science and Technology Agency, Government of Japan
Geographical Survey Institute
INQUA commission on Neotectonics
Hyogo Prefecture, Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education
Nojima Fault Museum
Hokudan co.
1. Introduction
When large earthquakes, like the 1995 Kobe earthquake, hit populated areas no matter where on the Globe, they yield casualties, sorrow, and destruction, and leave deep and everlasting signs in the lives of survivors. However, for scientists, the occurrence of large earthquakes is the only way for testing present knowledge on earthquakes. At the same time it provides a new impulse toward a better understanding of these disastrous events.
The Kobe earthquake gave start to new programs in all earthquake related disciplines from traditional seismology to earthquake engineering and geology. The geological study of active faults for the purpose of understanding their seismic potential (recently defined as earthquake geology) is a relatively young discipline, mainly developed in the Western United States and Japan during the past two decades.
The principal aims of this discipline are (i) describing the seismic source from its geologic and geomorphic signature, and (ii) extending back in time, up to thousands of years, the historical (rarely longer than 1000 yr) and instrumental (less than 100 yr long) catalogues of seismicity, by recognizing and characterizing earthquakes of the past in the geologic record.
Thus, earthquake geology allow us to observe several seismic cycles on the same fault. On one hand, this is a contribution to the understanding of the seismogenic processes and particularly of the recurrence of large earthquakes. On the other, it has a direct social impact because of its direct applicability for seismic hazard assessment. The Kobe earthquake increased substantially our awareness of the need for active faulting studies in earthquake-prone countries and it is following this lesson that we are organizing the symposium and school "The Kobe earthquake five year later: the frontier of active fault research"
-------------------------------------------------------------
2. Objective and scientific theme
During the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the Nojima fault ruptured the ground surface of Hokudan town in Awaji Island as a primary part of the seismogenic fault. This surface faulting was the first significant rupture for modern Japanese seismology. At the same time, the fault was the source of the severest earthquake hazard in Japan since 1923 Kanto earthquake. The scientific significance together with the harsh disaster evoked phenomenal national attention on active faulting. Since then, Japanese federal and local governments have made concentrated efforts to understand and evaluate seismic risks from active faults. Meantime, in international context, the 1989 Loma Prieta, 1992 Landers, and 1994 Northridge earthquake and consequent hazards pushed active fault studies forward to carry out substantial seismic hazard assessment not only in California but also in entire United States, Europe, and other areas in the world.
The Nojima fault is a symbolic landmark for the people who devoted for, suffered from, and live together with active faults, and will be a milestone of the research for the 21st century. Hokudan town, Japanese scientists and ILP deeply recognized the significance of this and invite those who concerned about active faulting to the Hokudan symposium.
The objective of the Hokudan symposium and school is to present the latest results on active fault research in Japan and all over the world to International audience including the sufferers of Kobe earthquake, scientists, engineers, and practitioner from developing countries in Asia and Pacific regions. The hottest research topics will be reviewed for the strategy to mitigate hazard in better international and multidisciplinary cooperation. The strategy to benefit the community in large from active fault research will also be an important objective. The school aims to provide the participants from Asia and Pacific regions as well as from Japan and other countries with information and techniques on the fundamental as well as sophisticated applications of the geology of earthquakes.
The program consists of three major parts with following themes.
A. Scientific symposium
--The study of active faulting and paleoseismology: the state of the art and perspectives.
--The use and benefit of active fault research
--Multidisciplinary research for active faulting
[Registration in advance is not required to participate only in the symposium.]
B. School
--Seismic hazard assessment based on active fault research: method and practice
--Earthquake recurrence: models and there physical background
--Reconstruction of paleoearthquakes based on liquefaction and tsunamis
--Excursion and field training of research techniques
[Number of participants is limited. See 7 General information for application.]
C. Public Program
--Active faults in Japan and in world: threat and benefit
--The social application of the active fault information
--To know the seismic hazard in the world
3. Date
17th January to 26th January 2000
Tentative program:
17 Jan. registration, ice-breaker
18 Jan. opening ceremony, symposium 1, reception, poster session
19 Jan. symposium 2, poster session
20 Jan. school, poster session
21 Jan. excursion of Nojima fault, public program
22 Jan. school, poster session
23 Jan. school, poster session, public lectures
24 Jan. excursion and field training [Median tectonic line in Shikoku]
25 Jan. excursion and field training [Median tectonic line in Shikoku]
26 Jan. closing
4. Venue
symposium, public programs and posters: Hokudan communication center school: Nojima fault museum, seminar house
Hokudan communication center has 500 audience auditorium and 100 person meeting room, and extensive lobby for posters. The seminar house has 200 audience lecture room.
All facilities in Toshima, Hokudan town, Awaji Island, Japan
Hokudan-town in Awaji Island is located right on the source fault of the 1995 Hyogo-ken- Nambu or Kobe earthquake. The fault, namely Nojima fault, ruptured for about10 km along the coastline through the town. In 1998 the town opened a fault museum. The museum itself is a huge greenhouse covering the surface rupture over 100 meters. Offset road, fence, and ground surface are well preserved. There is also a trench exposing the fault cutting through lower Quaternary sediments. The inauguration of the museum coincided with the opening
of the world longest Akashi channel bridge which connect Awaji Island with mainland Japan in March 1998. Since then the museum has been one of the most popular sites for the tourists in Awaji.
5. Language
English for symposium, school, and excursion English with Japanese translation for public programs and poster presentation [summary]
6. Number of participants [expected]
--300 to 400 total participants to the symposium --30 foreign and 10 Japanese lecturers for the symposium and school, no more than 100 school participants including lectures and students, --200 to 300 participants for public programs.
Each lecturer will give at least one lecture in symposium or in school. All school participants will be requested to prepare a poster presentation. Non-profit organizations [e.g. Geological Survey of Japan, Geographical Survey Institute] will or may exhibit their scientific achievements.
Provisional Speakers include: [as of July 20, 1999, *retired]
Jill Andrews (SCEC)
David D. Jackson (UCLA-SCEC)
Tony Crone (U.S. Geological Survey)
Earl Hart (California Department of Mines and Geology*)
Manabu Hashimoto (DPRI, Kyoto University)
Alan Hull(New Zealand Minstry of Research, Sciences and Technology)
Yasutaka Ikeda (Tokyo Univesity)
Kojiro Irikura (DPRI, Kyoto University)
Kerry Sieh (Caltec)
David Schwartz (U.S. Geological Survey)
Michael Machette (U.S. Geological Survey)
Mustapha Meghraoui (IPG, Strasbourg)
Bertrand Meyer (IPGP, Paris)
Daniela Pantosi(ING, Rome)
Tom Rockwell (San Diego State University)
Niko Shimazaki (ERI University of Tokyo)
Michel Sebrier (Universite de Paris-sud)
Kerry Sieh (Caltec)
David Schwartz (U.S. Geological Survey)
Ross Stein (U.S. Geological Survey)
Steve Wesnousky (University of Nevada, Reno)
Bob Yeats (Oregon State University*)
[This list is very provisional. We expect more lecturers.]
7. General Information [IMPORTANT]
The organizing committee should like to invite as many participants as possible within the limitation of funds and accommodations. Anybody with strong desire to study active faulting and seismic hazard assessment can join the school. If a person is a post-graduate and has strong motivation to study active faulting, occupation and current subject of research do not matter. Fresh persons as well as experienced professional are invited to the school.
Persons who wish to attend the both the school and the symposium [consisting an important part of the school] should apply to:
Koji Okumura
Faculty of Letters, Hiroshima University
Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8522 Hiroshima, JAPAN
kojiok@ipc.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Fax: +81-824-240320
Phone: +81-824-246657
The application should include following information: (a) Date and place of birth together with present nationality; (b) Degree and other academic qualification with date and place; and (c) Present position and place of work; and (d) Possible title of poster presentation [required for each participant] with short explanation.
An application should include a letter of recommendation from the applicant's supervisor, professor or senior researcher. There is no specific form.
The total fee for 10 day participation, which includes full board and lodging (arranged by the school), and field excursions, is US$1000. Please do not send any payment with your application form.
Some grants will be available from the organizers and sponsors especially for young researchers, primarily from less favored countries in Asia and Pacific regions. Any request for a grant should be indicated on the application form, and accompanied by a separate letter of recommendation from a senior scientist familiar with the candidate's work.
When you require grant, please clearly describe what supports you need. They are for; (1) domestic transportation and tax if needed , (2) international transportation, (3) the US$1000 fee for the school and symposium above, and (4) others. Also please give us estimates of the amount in US$ about (1), (2), and (4) when you apply.
Closing date of application is August 20, 1999 for those who need grant for the trip to Japan (1 and 2), and it is September 30, 1999 for those who do not need grant for (1) and (2). They will be reviewed by the Organizing and Operation Committee members to inform the outcome by September 1999. Successful candidates will receive the final conference program and detailed practical information 6-8 weeks prior to the school. An abstract will be required for the poster presentation.
8. Update on Web page
For the latest information, please visit:
http://www.lett.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/~kojiok/hokudan.htm