M6.9 quake jolts central Japan; 1 dead, 189 injured

I was enjoying my rainy Sunday morning sleep-in when this one arrived. Just slight shaking here south of Nagoya, but enough to get me to turn the TV on and see what it was. I'm also surprised there was so little damage for such a big one so close to the coast. Obviously thoughts go out to the victims and their families.

 

...no matter which way you look at it, Japan is the LEADER in earthquake research, and Stanford looks to Japan to get much of its information, NOT the other way round!
While seismic data is beneficial from all over the world, Japan is head and shoulders above the rest of the world when it comes to earthquake research!

 

Man, if you can come up with a way of preventing natural disasters, please let us know.

 

Seems to me that the leaders in research would encourage their homeowners to put something other than heavy tile on the roofs of their homes. That crap should have been outlawed and replaced a long time ago since it is a primary cause of collapse.

 

Of course, of course Japan is very advanced in earthquake research. I am not denying it.
But,
The Stanford research teams are travelling to all over the world to set up the censors to detect the changes of electromagnetic field associated with earthquake.
Do you know the UN actually sponsors the Stanford research team.
I have not heard that Japanese research teams collaborate extensively with others such as Stanford.
I have a feeling that Japan tends to see things microscopically. If you only see the virus under the the electromicroscopy, but can not see the real patient macroscopically suffering from the virus, How can you treat the patients?
Killing the virus is not all the treatment, as peaople with spinal meningitis become paralized even after the virus are gone.

 

JMA does communicate regularly with many worldwide agencies.They give and receive a wealth of information not only about earthquakes but other issues such as global warming.
Maybe your info sources are more US leaning so you hear more about US research?
JMA researchers go all over the world to speak in conferences and seminars and meet with other top scientists. They do think globally. Not sure why you would think otherwise.

 

well, I am fully agree that Japan has the most advance knowledge and technology in Earthquake research ..especially earthquake technology related equipments. But, the Japan still lacking in the software side especially on how to put these hardware to work properly as intended. That means how to reduce the vertical and horizontal fragmentation between layers of government and reduce beaurcracy in disaster management. The Kobe earthquake is fine example of these problems. Well, about stanford?? they should gave their advice during Hurricane Katarina in New Orleans in 2005. The moral of the story.. its easier said than done..

 

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/fema.tapes/index.html

everybody knew the Katrina is approaching, but the problem was Bush administrations' poor response and mismanagement as reported in CNN. She should have had ordered people evacuate before the Katrina hit the city.
It didn't need high tech research to predict the hurricane comming and hitting the city.
I am taliking about predicting the earthquake ahead of time with the high quality research, so the people can be evacuated from the epicenter and its vicinity.

 

One thing about this quake is the power seemed to dissipate fast. The areas with a "6" were confined to the end of the peninsula.
If this quake hit Tokyo or Osaka it would have been a mess.

 

I know Japan is well advance in earthquake research but how
does it help when earthquake hits within seconds? So, i guess
research and technology is for scholars who are interested
in such study, practical use may be near zero. 'amakudari's post says it all.

 

I wrote my post because the original poster sounded like he was trying to say that Japan has no earthquake research program.
The margin for warning in current earthquake prediciton systems are from 3 to 15seconds, as it takes time for shock waves to work up from the epicenter to ground level.
Frankly, I'd rather not be warned than have a 5 second buzzer go off when I'm on the crapper. :P

 

I've never seen another word at JT used to describe an earthquake.

 

If any Japanes researcher is trying to predict the anticipating earthquake just a few minuites ahead, he is waisting money. As some of you pointed out, it is of no use to prevent loss of life and property in a big scale.
The earthquake prediction I am taliking about is to predict at least days before the occurrence. Then people can be evacuated into the safe zone.
I mean the prediction of major earthquake at the Richter Scale 7 or above. I think Professor Inan at Stanford is doing such resaerches.

 

It's not about saving everyone, it's about minimizing danger. One takes what one can get. A minute or two are good enough to seek some cover, or avoid places prone to falling debris. Hours/Days would be better.

Of course, a minute's warning has the potential of creating chaos, if people are not educated properly. People would/should have a plan for what they would do with that minute. You wouldn't want people scramming for the exits.

 

Man, it's gotta suck being the one guy that died in an earthquake. I hope I'm never that unlucky.