Research project

Geodynamics & Tectonics Plate Analysis based on Distributed Optical Fibre Acoustic Sensor

Project overview

Megathrust earthquakes have long occurred repeatedly in Japan. Since 2011, an oceanic observation networks constituted by point sensors connected by optical fibres have been developed to monitor seismotectonic activities in this region. In this project we expand the seismometer capabilities by using the optical fibre network itself as a distributed seismometer providing thousands of high resolution seismic measurements aimed at clarifying the source of the very low frequency earthquakes based in the accretionary wedge between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian continent, which were discovered by the DONET stations in 2015. After initial tesing in JAMSTEC own fiber optic cables off Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan and Hatsushima, Shizuoka, Japan, a portable unit will be manufactured and will be taken on the research vessel R/V Shinsei-maru to be connected to the 10 km fibre optic extension cables via a fibre optic cable of the shipboard remotely operated vehicle. The novel distributed seismometer will be tested in the DONET stations to produce a 3D map of seismic activity along the Nankai through and investigate possible links links with the structure of the subducting plate interface.

Staff

Lead researchers

Professor Gilberto Brambilla

Associate Dean International
Connect with Gilberto

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Research outputs

Nicholas Harmon, Catherine A. Rychert, John Davis, Gilberto Brambilla, William Buffet, Ben Chichester, Yuhang Dai, Petros Bogiatzis, James Snook, Lieke van Putten & Ali Masoudi, 2022, Near Surface Geophysics, 20(5), 465-477
Type: article
David Milne, Ali Masoudi, Geoff Watson, Edgar Ferro & Louis Le Pen, 2020, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 142
Type: article
Brandon Redding, Matthew Murray, Andrei Donko, Martynas Beresna, Ali Masoudi & Gilberto Brambilla, 2020, Optics Express, 28(10), 14638-14647
Type: article
Lieke Van Putten, Ali Masoudi & Gilberto Brambilla, 2019, Optics Letters, 44(24), 5925-5928
Type: article