Managing Director:
     Takashi Furumura
  (University of Tokyo)

  Summary
 We are studying earthquake occurrence history using advanced large-scale simulations made possible by the “K Computer”. Large earthquakes occur as a result of complex fault movement, and as the seismic waves travel from the epicenter through the complex structure of the earth interior, the waves are amplified, causing strong motions over the surface of the Earth.
 In order to accurately simulate such complicated propagation of the seismic waves, high performance computation is needed. With the arrival of the “K Computer”, the scale of the computer simulation has increased 50-fold from the previous simulation using the Earth Simulator (JAMSTEC).
 We are currently examining the mechanism of Great off Tohoku Japan Earthquake of 2011, and large earthquakes which repeatedly occurred along the Nankai Trough in the past, and have reproduced the strong quakes and the subsequent tsunami. We are now trying to verify the result of our simulation by comparing our data in detail to those actually observed during the earthquakes. If we can realize a highly accurate simulation, we will be able to estimate and assess strong quakes and tsunami anticipated to strike in the near future. This will lead to damage prediction and mitigation.