Deep seismic surveys off southern Honshu, Japan, and earthquake prediction

The densely populated Tokai (southern Honshu) region of Japan expects a major earthquake in the near future. Recent studies indicate that partial melting of wet peridotite at hypocentral depths in regions of high heat-flow is possible and this phenomenon may be a significant trigger in creating such earthquakes. Changes in seismic shock wave velocities caused by partial melting can be calculated and the monitoring of such velocity changes may assist in the prediction of major earthquakes in the vicinity of Japan.