Tottori Observatory


286-2 Kitazono 1chome, Tottori 680-0004 JAPAN
TEL: +81-857-29-0949
FAX: +81-857-29-4480

The Tottori Microearthquake Observatory was established in 1964 in conformity with the "Earthquake Prediction Project in Japan", and was renamed "Tottori Observatory" at the time when Research Center for Earthquake Prediction was established in 1990. This observatory has 9 substations, all equipped with high-sensitivity and short-period seismographs of three components. Observations at the sub-stations are concentrated on the observatory, and then on Research Center for Earthquake Prediction in Uji City by using a telemetering system. Some selected earthquakes are recorded on magnetic tapes and monitor penrecorder by trigger and memory systems.

An auto-processing system of microearthquakes has been operated since 1984 at the Research Center for Earthquake Prediction in Uji City, by which seismic source data, including coordinates of hypocenter and magnitude of small to micro-earthquakes, are automatically determined and telemetered to the Earthquake Research Institute in the University of Tokyo.

In addition to the above, special research activities are as follows.

Geomagnetic and telluric current observations: Geomagnetic total intensities have been continuously measured using a proton precession magnetometer since 1968 to investigate tectonomagnetism at Tottori Observatory. This observatory is often referred as the base station of magnetic surveys carried out in Chugoku districts.

Besides, three components of the geomagnetic field and two components of the telluric currents have been also continuously observed to investigate temporal changes of electrical conductivity around Tottori Observatory.

Investigation of groundwater: Observations of groundwater are made at many hot springs in the

San'in area, in order to identify anomalous changes of groundwater related to earthquake occurrence. A liquid scintillation counter is operated to measure tritium concentration in groundwater for the purpose of determining the origin of the groundwater.