Understanding Seismic Risks through Historical Data: An Interview with Prof. Kenji Satake, AOGS, Japan

Summary
Professor Kenji Satake, a renowned seismologist and tsunami researcher, discusses his research on historical earthquakes and tsunamis using interdisciplinary approaches. He emphasizes the importance of combining geophysical, geological, and historical data to understand the timing and magnitude of these natural disasters. His work has uncovered the existence and impact of past earthquakes, such as the Cascadia earthquake, and has contributed to our understanding of seismic risks. Professor Satake also discusses his role in establishing the Asia Oceania Geoscience Society and its journal, Geoscience Letters, to promote international collaboration and open access to scientific research. He encourages aspiring geophysicists and seismologists to embrace interdisciplinary and international collaboration for groundbreaking discoveries.

Keywords
earthquakes, tsunamis, seismology, tsunami research, historical data, interdisciplinary approach, geophysical data, geological data, scientific research, seismic risks, Asia Oceania Geoscience Society, Geoscience Letters, international collaboration, open access

Takeaways

• Combining geophysical, geological, and historical data is crucial for understanding the timing and magnitude of historical earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Professor Satake's research has uncovered the existence and impact of past earthquakes, such as the Cascadia earthquake, and has contributed to our understanding of seismic risks.
• He emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary and international collaboration in geoscience research.
• Establishing platforms for open access to scientific research, such as the Asia Oceania Geoscience Society and Geoscience Letters, promotes knowledge sharing and preparedness for future natural disasters.

Sound Bites

• "Geophysical approach is not really long enough to cover such a long recurrent interval."
• "The fact that earthquakes happened in the past guarantees that earthquakes will happen in the future."
• "There are many scientific technological developments these days for the early warning system, for earthquakes early warning, and tsunami early warning."

Check out the AOGS and Springer Nature journal, Geoscience Letters here for more insights. 

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction: Unveiling the Secrets of Historical Earthquakes and Tsunamis
• 3:03 Combining Geophysical, Geological, and Historical Data
• 8:18 Understanding Seismic Risks through Historical Data
• 12:07 The Impact of Historical Earthquakes on Civil Defense and Disaster Management
• 14:01 Promoting Collaboration and Open Access in Geoscience Research
• 20:19 Advice for Aspiring Geophysicists and Seismologists
• 22:45 Conclusion: The Power of Collaboration in Geoscience