GNSS-Acoustic Observation Using the Wave Glider to Detect the Seafloor
Crustal Deformation Associated with the Temporal Change in the
Interplate Locking State
Abstract
Recently, Uchida et al. [2016, Science] revealed the periodic
changes in the interplate locking in the northeast Japan subduction zone
based on the activity of small repeating earthquakes and terrestrial
crustal deformation data. They found that slow slip on the plate
interface has occurred repeatedly at intervals of from 2 to 6 years,
depending on the location. In the northern part of the Japan Trench, a
tsunami earthquake occurred with rupturing the shallow plate boundary in
1896, but it is not well understood whether the coseismic slip fully
released the interseismic slip deficit, and whether periodic slow slip
events occur near the trench or not. In order to investigate the
interplate locking state in this region, we have just started a research
project titled “Head and tail of massive earthquakes: Mechanism
arresting growth of interplate earthquakes” (JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number
JP19H05596), under which GNSS-Acoustic observation to detect the
seafloor crustal deformation will be performed more frequently than ever
before. To accomplish frequent observations, we have been developing
automatic GNSS-A data acquisition system using an unmanned surface
vehicle, the Wave Glider. As a first observation, we have performed
GNSS-A observation at a seafloor station off Aomori Prefecture in this
July. The Wave Glider (SV3-240) was equipped with 2 GNSS antennas,
acoustic transducer, MEMS gyro, and their control and logging units. The
data acquisition from these sensors and the autonomous activation of the
seafloor transponders were successfully executed only with turning the
power supply to the payload on/off from land via a satellite
communication. The Wave Glider rarely strayed off the configured course,
and the solar panels generated enough power to perform the observations
although the weather was mostly cloudy during the operation. Now, we are
processing the obtained data, and the results will be presented at the
meeting.