Ocean Newsletter
No.350 March 5, 2015
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Experimental Study of Floating Offshore Wind Farm in Fukushima: the research project initiative and future challenges
Tomofumi FUKUDADomestic Power Project Department, Marubeni Corporation
In the Experimental Study of Floating Offshore Wind Farm in Fukushima, we have installed one of the world's largest floating wind turbines and are carrying out demonstrative research. While addressing the various issues that have come to light through this project, such as economic viability, coexistence with the fishing industry and the establishment of operation & maintenance plan, we are aiming at making floating wind turbines commercially viable.
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Monitoring of Sunken Marine Tsunami Debris off the Pacific Coast Following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake: debris mapping for use by the fishing industry
Yoshihiro FUJIWARA Project Team for Analyses of Changes in East Japan Marine Ecosystems, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) / Selected Papers No.19(p.23)
4 years after the earthquake and tsunami, it appears that conditions in the ocean are settling down. However, most of the more than 3 million tons of debris washed out onto the sea floor is still there and affecting ecosystems as well as the fishing industry. Under the Tohoku Ecosystem-Associated Marine Sciences project, JAMSTEC is conducting deep-sea surveys using remotely operated vehicles and other devices to assess current conditions of the seafloor debris and its effects on surrounding ecosystems, aiming at the mapping of seafloor debris and marine life in the offshore waters of the Tohoku region.
Selected Papers No.19(p.23) -
Understanding Earthquake Occurrence Mechanisms from Changes in the Deep Sea Environment
Naoto TAKAHATAResearch Associate, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of TokyoYuji SANOProfessor, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo / Recipient, 7th National Maritime Award
It was found that the 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake ruptured the interface between two tectonic plates and large amounts of fluid flowed from deep in the earth to the sea floor along the plate interface. While the nature of the fluid is not well understood, it may trigger the great earthquake as the fluid would increase the pore pressure. Geochemical information in this fluid may clarify the mechanism behind earthquake occurrences.