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A new
field called seismoelectromagnetics is generating
excitement among Filipino and Japanese earth scientists
who expressed commitment to pursue this fresh science
frontier for practical applications.
Interest
in promoting the new field shaped up through a
memorandum of understanding signed between Dr. Reynaldo
Ebora, executive director of the Philippine Council for
Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development
(PCASTRD), and Dr. Kiyohumi Yumoto, director of the
Space Environment Research Center (SERC) in Japan’s
Kyushu University. The two agencies committed to work
together to promote the “peaceful uses of
seismoelectromagnetics research.”
PCASTRD
and SERC pledged to collaborate on “matters of mutual
interest” and hold activities that will provide
opportunities for the exchange of ideas, information,
technology and personnel. Such opportunities will
include information-sharing, scientific visits and joint
research projects.
Seismoelectromagnetics is currently shaking conventional
knowledge on earthquake prediction as it is hinged on
the idea that earthquakes may now be possibly predicted
using observed data on electromagnetic emissions from
the earth’s surface.
The
groundbreaking technology, also called Lithosphere
Weather Forecasting, involves various disciplines, such
as radio physics, atmospheric physics, solid state
physics, plasma physics, hydrology, geodynamics and
seismology.
The
Philippines and Japan are among the countries in Asia
which are often visited by earthquakes.
In a
seminar on seismoelectromagnetics, radio physics expert
Masashi Hayakawa of Japan’s University of
Electro-Communications, said “earthquakes are physical
phenomena, and science should be able to offer some
predictive systems on their future behavior.”
Hayakawa’s research teams observed electromagnetic
phenomena preceding large earthquakes and tried to find
out the relationship of these phenomena and possible
physics. In the course of his study, his research teams
detected ultralow frequency earthquake emissions that
showed “convincing evidences of magnetic signature.”
Science
Secretary Estrella Alabastro stressed the need for a
developing country like the
Philippines
to increase awareness and build national capacity on
seismo-electromagnetics. She also explained that the
science community needs to develop customized solutions
that are appropriate to the needs of the people and
their localities.
“The
sunrise science of seismo-electromagnetics definitely
has a central role in providing early warning to
communities at risk to earthquakes,” Estrella added.
PCASTRD
is the Department of Science and Technology’s lead
agency in promoting advanced science and technology
fields, including geosciences.
--Framelia V. Anonas/S&T
Media Service |
