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Observational Seismology and Volcanology Lab (Earthquake and Volcano Observation Research Center)
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A lab that observes earthquakes and volcanoes to explore what is happening underground.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading earthquakes and volcanoes through observation.
The Observational Seismology and Volcanology Lab actually observes earthquake and volcanic phenomena and uses the data to study what is happening underground.
The lab works on the mechanisms of inland earthquakes, the effects of scattering that seismic waves undergo as they propagate, and ultra-high-density observation using fiber-optic cables.
The Earthquake and Volcano Observation Research Center, to which lab members belong, also conducts on-site observation, such as installing ocean bottom seismometers and maintaining seismic observation stations following the Kumamoto Earthquake.
Key terms
- DAS
- Distributed Acoustic Sensing. A measurement method that uses the fiber-optic cable itself as a vibration sensor, producing vibration records at intervals of a few meters.
- Pore fluid pressure
- The pressure of fluids such as water in the gaps within rock. It relates to the strength of the crust.
- Slow earthquake
- A general term for phenomena in which a fault slips more slowly than in ordinary earthquakes.
NewsLab news
Assistant Professor Baba receives the Early Career Award of the Seismological Society of Japan
Associate Professor Aizawa and colleagues publish a paper on the magma plumbing systems of Kirishima and Sakurajima
Associate Professor Emoto and colleagues publish a paper on investigating underground structure using fiber-optic cables
ResearchResearch themes
Based on observational data of earthquakes and volcanoes, the lab studies underground structure and the mechanisms that cause earthquakes. Its research topics include the mechanisms of inland earthquakes, scattering of seismic waves, and ultra-high-density observation using optical fibers.
*Illustrative imageHow Inland Earthquakes Occur
The lab analyzes stress fields, strain-rate fields, and seismicity to attempt to model crustal activity in inland Kyushu. It is also working on estimating pore fluid pressure, which relates to the strength of the crust.
*Illustrative imageSeismic Waves Traveling Through Fine Heterogeneities
When fine heterogeneities exist underground, seismic waves undergo scattering such as reflection, diffraction, and refraction, which makes the observed waveforms complex. The lab quantitatively investigates this effect using theoretical models based on the wave equation and numerical simulations.
*Illustrative imageUltra-High-Density Observation with Optical Fibers
Using DAS, which uses the fiber-optic cable itself as a vibration sensor, the lab obtains vibration records at intervals of a few meters along survey lines tens of kilometers long. From this enormous dataset, it studies how to estimate fine heterogeneous structure underground.
*Illustrative imageSlow Earthquakes in Subduction Zones
The lab uses diverse seismic observation data to clarify the characteristics of slow earthquake activity in subduction zones.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Observational Seismology and Volcanology Lab consist of faculty, administrative staff, technical staff, PhD and master's students, and fourth-year undergraduates doing special research.As of 2026
- ProfessorSatoshi Matsumoto
- Associate ProfessorKoki Aizawa
- Associate ProfessorKentaro Emoto
- Assistant ProfessorSatoru Baba
- Project Assistant ProfessorNataliya GALINA
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Seismometer-iceland” Heidi Soosalu / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- How Inland Earthquakes Occur: “The exact location of the Saguling fault, Cianjur” Aprizal1642 / CC0 (cropped)
- Seismic Waves Traveling Through Fine Heterogeneities: “Seismogram at Weston Observatory” Z22 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Ultra-High-Density Observation with Optical Fibers: “Optical fiber connectors-optical patch cable-01ASD” Asurnipal / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Slow Earthquakes in Subduction Zones: “Plongée en bassin d'essais pour le test des sismomètres OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometer) (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay (Ifremer) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth Interior Materials Science Lab): “Diamond anvil cell schematic” José A. Flores-Livas, Lilia Boeri, Antonio Sanna, Gianni Profeta, Ryotaro Arita, Mikhail Eremets / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Volcano Science Lab): “Volcanic Ash Fall Deposits of Tajogaite Volcanic Eruption on La Palma in 2021” Xavier Bolós / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth Interior Dynamics Lab): “The Day the Earth Smiled - PIA17172” NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Rock Cycle Science Lab): “Metamorphic rock in the area at Sårjåstjåhkkå in Sulitjelma” Frankemann / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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