日本列島周辺における最近の海洋底の研究  [in Japanese] Recent study of the sea floor around the Japanese Islands  [in Japanese]

The studies of the marine geological history around the Japanese Islands have made marked progress particularly through the DSDP drillings and the multi channel seismic reflection surveys since the 70's. The Japanese Islands have been situated on the plate boundaries through its evolution. The tectonic evolution of the Pacific in front of the islands should have affected its history in great extent, while the intra plate deformation in the Eurasia Plate in their backside also should have been closely related to the tectonics of the Japanese Islands. There have been no successful scenario for the tectonic evolution of the Japanese Islands and its adjacent areas which developed through the interaction with such changing oceanic and continental plates. In the 80's, the worldwide geological and geophysical surveys are attempting to clarify the complete framework of the plate tectonics by using innovative new techniques such as scientific satellite, sea beam, advanced deep sea drilling, deep continental reflection profillng, and so on. The tectonic evolution of the Japanese Islands should be successfuly understood through such efforts of pursuing more complete framework of plate tectonics.