MOWLAS: NIED observation network for earthquake, tsunami and volcano

TLDR

MOWLAS combines NIED’s land and seafloor observation networks, established after the 1995 Kobe and 2011 Tohoku events, to provide comprehensive data for earthquake forecasting, hazard assessment, and disaster resilience. The purpose of MOWLAS is to provide comprehensive, accurate, and rapid observation and monitoring of earthquake, tsunami, and volcano events throughout Japan and its offshore areas. Ocean bottom observations extend coverage to uninhabited areas and increase lead time for earthquake early warning and tsunami warning. Applying recent technology to real‑time observations and processing MOWLAS data has directly mitigated ongoing earthquakes.

Abstract

Abstract National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) integrated the land observation networks established since the 1995 Kobe earthquake with the seafloor observation networks established since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami as MOWLAS (Monitoring of Waves on Land and Seafloor) in November 2017. The purpose of MOWLAS is to provide comprehensive, accurate, and rapid observation and monitoring of earthquake, tsunami, and volcano events throughout Japan and its offshore areas. MOWLAS data are widely utilized for long-term earthquake forecasting, the monitoring of current seismic activity, seismic and tsunami hazard assessments, earthquake early warning, tsunami warning, and earthquake engineering, as well as earthquake science. Ocean bottom observations provide an extension of observations to areas where no people are living and have the advantage of increasing lead time of earthquake early warning and tsunami warning. The application of recent technology advancements to real-time observations as well as the processing of MOWLAS data has contributed to the direct disaster mitigation of ongoing earthquakes. These observations are fundamental for both science and disaster resilience, and thus it is necessary to continue ceaseless operation and maintenance.