Center for Earthquake, Tsunami, and Volcano, Observation Research, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) constructs and operates earthquake and volcano observation networks on land and earthquake and tsunami observation networks on the seafloor at a national scale. Our center also conducts research based on our observations.
After the 1995 Kobe earthquake, NIED installed land earthquake observation networks all over Japan. These nationwide networks contributed not only to development of earthquake early warning but also several discoveries of earth science phenomena. After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, NIED installed the world's largest scale seafloor observation networks to promote earthquake and tsunami research. NIED also constructs and operates volcano observation networks to monitor volcanic activity.
Data from the NIED observation networks, named MOWLAS (Monitoring of Waves on Land and Seafloor), is open and publicly available, to be used for disaster resilience. Our center also develops data-driven research on real-time prediction of earthquake ground motion, rapid detection and forecast of tsunamis, and assessments of the long-term potential for large earthquakes for purposes of hazard mitigation.
We promote observation and research into earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes as a core institution that improves the nation's resilience to those hazards.
Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano, Observation Research
Director-General
Shin Aoi