*********** 071494B.OBV *********** Contributory Category: BIO, GEO, PHY From: Science and Technology Today June 1994 v. 6, no. 6 p. 4 KEYWORDS: Japan, Sagami Bay; JAMSTEC, Earthquake Monitoring, Real time monitoring, Seafloor Instrumentation, Seafloor Observations +++++ WORLD'S FIRST DEEP-SEABED OBSERVATION STATION OPERATIONAL -Off Hatsushima, Sagami Bay - The Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) recently has started regular observations from its a "deep seabed comprehensive observation station", installed in the seabed off Hatsushima in Sagami Bay. This comprehensive observation station is equipped with -a video camera, underwater microphone, seismometer, thermometer, current meter and current-direction meter. It is the worlds first comprehensive deep-seabed base to observe the deep-sea environment. It is expected that its observations will increase the preciseness of earthquake observation data in Sagami Bay. Data so far unknown also will be obtained, including those relating activities of seabed organisms to earthquakes. The station is about 2 square meters in size. It is located in the seabed about 1,177 m deep and 6 km southeast off Hatsushima, the site of remarkable seabed activities, including the Great Earthquake of 1923. This place lies on the fault line between the Philhpine-Sea plate and the North-American plate. Data from the station will be sent to the Hatsushima Observatory through optical fibers 8 km long and then transmitted to JAMSTEC in Yokosuka City for analysis. Observations will take place for 2-3 years in the future. Then, after removing the station to rearrange and improve the system, it will be re-installed again at the same spot to continue the observations. (For further information, contact the Public Relations Office, JAMSTFC: phone; 0466-68-3811) ************** END Msg. B.OBV **************