4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
[MZZ41-12] Personal views of old researchers of the Wadati-Benioff zone
Keywords:Wadati-Benioff zone, Richard L. Meehan's The Atom and the Fault, Seiya Uyeda's The New View of the Earth, Frank Press' Biographical Memoir for Hugo Benioff, Japanese geologists’ thrust hypothesis for deep-seismic zones before Benioff
Ishiwatari (2025, https://geosociety.jp/faq/content1183.html) pointed out that some Japanese geologists (e.g. Yehara, 1940; Japan J. Geol. Geogr., 17, 233-250) discussed underthrust of the Pacific Ocean floor along the deep seismic zone beneath the Japanese Islands as a cause of formation of oceanic trench and orogenic movement in Japan well before Benioff (1949; Bull. GSA, 60, 1837-1856).
Meehan (1984) published “The Atom and the Fault” from MIT Press, and in p.57 he said “since the 1920’s, when Cal Tech seismologist Hugo Benioff had returned from Japan with the observation that Japanese buildings designed using an earthquake-simulating seismic coefficient of 0.1 g (~100 cm/s^2) had fared better than conventional buildings in the devastating 1923 Japanese quake (around Tokyo), structural engineering codes in California had included progressively more stringent design requirements that assured structures some minimal resistance against complete collapse due to earthquake shaking.” In fact, the “0.1 g” and Japanese earthquake were mentioned in Benioff (1934, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am.,24, 398-403). Meehan (1984, p. 43) also gave comments on the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in California that “following the recommendation of Cal Tech seismologist Hugo Benioff, the plant was designed to withstand the shaking accompanying a strong (Magnitude 6 3/4) earthquake occurring directly beneath the site.” Although M 8.5 earthquake by the Hosgri Fault and another earthquake by the Shoreline Fault were later taken into account for seismic hazards of the site, Benioff contributed to seismic hazard mitigation in early days. He also developed and improved seismometers and extensometers, and as a hobby experimented electronic piano, violin and cello. Earthquake is a terrestrial sound (or music), and he may have been good at hearing every sound; natural and artificial.
The word “Wadati-Benioff zone” that is used worldwide has been proposed by Uyeda (1978; “The New View of the Earth: Moving Continents and Moving Oceans”, Freeman). This is an English version of his 1971 Japanese book “Atarashii Chikyukan” published by Iwanami, and the translator is Masako Onuki. As the translation is excellent, the book is widely read in USA, and is further translated into 19 languages. The book can now be freely downloaded from Tokai University Repository. The word “Benioff zone” is often used in USA, but the word “Wadati zone” is also found in “Glossary of Geology”.
Benioff passed away in 1968, and Frank Press (1973) dedicated his Biographical Memoir to National Academy of Science. Japanese geophysicist Hitoshi Takeuchi (1969; “Chikyu no Kosei”, Iwanami, p. 20) gave extolling words for Press. “Press was born in 1925, …when he took the Director position of Earthquake Institute of Cal Tech in 1957 succeeding Gutenberg, people were surprised at his youthfulness. …He shows unusual ability in every way he goes from observation, experiment, theoretical analysis to social intercourse and politics. He will be a leading figure of the American geophysical society over some tens of years from now.” In fact, he served as science advisor for four US Presidents, he went to see Deng Xiaoping and paved the way for Chinese students to come to US universities, and he received Japan Prize in 1993 under the title “Development of contemporary seismology and promotion of international activity in disaster science.” Press passed away in 2020 at age 95 (MIT News, Feb. 7, 2020). As expected by Takeuchi, he certainly became a leading scientist.
After knowing the scientific accomplishments and personality of Hugo Benioff, and after reading his thorough obituary written by his successor who became a leading scientist, I understand the reason why Americans put his name to the deep seismic zone. However, it is true that some Japanese geologists discussed tectonics of deep seismic zone well before Benioff (1949), and the problem of scientific priority should be duly considered.
Meehan (1984) published “The Atom and the Fault” from MIT Press, and in p.57 he said “since the 1920’s, when Cal Tech seismologist Hugo Benioff had returned from Japan with the observation that Japanese buildings designed using an earthquake-simulating seismic coefficient of 0.1 g (~100 cm/s^2) had fared better than conventional buildings in the devastating 1923 Japanese quake (around Tokyo), structural engineering codes in California had included progressively more stringent design requirements that assured structures some minimal resistance against complete collapse due to earthquake shaking.” In fact, the “0.1 g” and Japanese earthquake were mentioned in Benioff (1934, Bull. Seis. Soc. Am.,24, 398-403). Meehan (1984, p. 43) also gave comments on the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in California that “following the recommendation of Cal Tech seismologist Hugo Benioff, the plant was designed to withstand the shaking accompanying a strong (Magnitude 6 3/4) earthquake occurring directly beneath the site.” Although M 8.5 earthquake by the Hosgri Fault and another earthquake by the Shoreline Fault were later taken into account for seismic hazards of the site, Benioff contributed to seismic hazard mitigation in early days. He also developed and improved seismometers and extensometers, and as a hobby experimented electronic piano, violin and cello. Earthquake is a terrestrial sound (or music), and he may have been good at hearing every sound; natural and artificial.
The word “Wadati-Benioff zone” that is used worldwide has been proposed by Uyeda (1978; “The New View of the Earth: Moving Continents and Moving Oceans”, Freeman). This is an English version of his 1971 Japanese book “Atarashii Chikyukan” published by Iwanami, and the translator is Masako Onuki. As the translation is excellent, the book is widely read in USA, and is further translated into 19 languages. The book can now be freely downloaded from Tokai University Repository. The word “Benioff zone” is often used in USA, but the word “Wadati zone” is also found in “Glossary of Geology”.
Benioff passed away in 1968, and Frank Press (1973) dedicated his Biographical Memoir to National Academy of Science. Japanese geophysicist Hitoshi Takeuchi (1969; “Chikyu no Kosei”, Iwanami, p. 20) gave extolling words for Press. “Press was born in 1925, …when he took the Director position of Earthquake Institute of Cal Tech in 1957 succeeding Gutenberg, people were surprised at his youthfulness. …He shows unusual ability in every way he goes from observation, experiment, theoretical analysis to social intercourse and politics. He will be a leading figure of the American geophysical society over some tens of years from now.” In fact, he served as science advisor for four US Presidents, he went to see Deng Xiaoping and paved the way for Chinese students to come to US universities, and he received Japan Prize in 1993 under the title “Development of contemporary seismology and promotion of international activity in disaster science.” Press passed away in 2020 at age 95 (MIT News, Feb. 7, 2020). As expected by Takeuchi, he certainly became a leading scientist.
After knowing the scientific accomplishments and personality of Hugo Benioff, and after reading his thorough obituary written by his successor who became a leading scientist, I understand the reason why Americans put his name to the deep seismic zone. However, it is true that some Japanese geologists discussed tectonics of deep seismic zone well before Benioff (1949), and the problem of scientific priority should be duly considered.