[H-GM03] Geomorphology

[HGM03-P10] A distribution map of submerged terraces around the Japanese Islands based on the interpretation of submarine anaglyph images

*Tetsuya Komatsu¹, Atsuto Izumida², Takayuki Takahashi², Taro Funatsu², Masahiro Muraki², Renya Hohzoh², Katsuhiro Nomura¹, Masakazu Niwa¹, Toshihiko Sugai² (1.Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2.Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

Keywords:geological disposal, seafloor landform, submerged terrace, anaglyph, Japanese Islands

One of the primary issues of the geological disposal technology is to advance the techniques associated with investigation/assessment for long-term uplift and erosion in terrestrial-marine transitional zone in Japan. To examine this issue, it is inevitable to understand the geomorphic features indicating uplift and erosion in the continental shelf, which widely emerged during glacial periods. Submerged terraces defined as step-like and lobate seabed features can be identified along the continental shelfs. These landforms morphologically mimic marine terraces in terrestrial areas, and therefore are expected to have been formed by a combination process of regional tectonics and global sea level variations. However, available information of the geomorphic features of submerged terraces around Japanese Islands is quite limited. In this context, this study aims to construct the distribution map of submerged terraces around Japanese Islands based on visual interpretations of submarine anaglyph images constructed from digital bathymetric charts of Japan Hydrographic Association (M7000 series).
*This study was carried out under a contract with METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) as part of its R&D supporting program for developing geological disposal technology.