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This observatory originally
started in February, 1962, as
the Shimabara Institute
for the Study of Volcano
and Hot Spring
attached to Faculty of Science,
Kyushu University,
supported
by the Nagasaki Prefecture and
the Shimabara City.
From 1968 an earthquake
swarm occurred around
the Shimabara Peninsula
and gave fears to
the residents.
In 1971, the Japanese Government
established the
Shimabara Volcano Observatory
for the purpose of continuous
observation in the Unzen
volcanic area.
In 1984,
it was given the present name,
"Shimabara Earthquake
and Volcano Observatory"
by the National Programs
for Earthquake Prediction.
It has aimed not only
for volcanic observation
but also for seismic observation,
especially around
the Beppu-Shimabara Graben.
In this observatory,
geophysical and geochemical research
for the prediction of
earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions is
being pursued.
The research programs cover
a broad range
including volcanic and
tectonic earthquakes,
ground deformations,
hot springs, volcanic gases
and resulting disasters.
The observatory is located
in the Shimabara City at the eastern
foot of Unzen Volcano,
and is equipped with a seismic
network of 24-hour
telemetered stations,
global positioning
system (GPS), correlation
spectrometer (COSPEC)
for the remote
sensing measurement of
volcanic plume, an apparatus
for geochemical
analyses and data processing systems.
Before and during the 1990-1995
eruption of Unzen Volcano
this observation system
displayed the great power for
precursory activities of
earthquake swarm and volcanic tremor,
volcanological study,
and preventing the disasters
due to volcanic eruption.
The observatory is now growing
to a center of seismology and
volcanology in the world.
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