Seismology and Volcanology Specialists to Visit the Northern Territories

August 15, 2007

From August 10 (Fri) to 13 (Mon), four specialists in seismology and volcanology, headed by Dr. Minoru Kasahara, Professor of the Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, Hokkaido University, visited Etorofu Island within the framework of visits to the Northern Territories. They interacted with local specialists, observed geologic conditions including volcanic ash layers and visited a seismological station.
As both Japanese and Russian leaders have repeatedly confirmed, it is important to promote further cooperation in the field of anti-disaster studies such as earthquake prediction, anti-disaster measures and volcanic activity studies in the neighboring areas between Japan and Russia including the Northern Territories. On the basis of this recognition, both governments signed a “Cooperative Program between the Government of Japan and the Russian Federation in the Fields of Prediction, Precaution, and Anti-disaster Measures of Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruption, and Tsunami in the Neighboring Areas between Japan and the Russian Federation” when Mr. Mikhail Efimovich Fradkov, the Russian Prime Minister, visited Japan in February 2007, and agreed on advancing specific cooperation.
This visit to Etorofu Island is a follow-up of the first visit by seismologists who visited Shikotan Island from May 25 to 28 this year. These visits are meaningful in advancing studies on volcanic activities and on prediction of earthquakes in the east part of Hokkaido, including Etorofu Island. Interaction of specialists like this is expected to enhance Japan-Russian cooperation in this field in the future.

(END)

Back to Index