Our reseach themes
(1)Dynamics of the Deep Earth
It has been suggested that subducted oceanic crust is returned to the mantle, accumulates at some levels and ultimately is incorporated in hot plumes that rise to the surface. What substance is transpotated between uppermantle and lowermantle? Does mantle plume rise from the depth of 670km (upper-lowermantle boundary) or 2900km (core-mantle boundary)? Is the chemical composition of lowermantle the same as that of uppermantle?
How is the interaction between metallic core and lowermantle? etc.
We approach these problems with apparatus of highpressure and temperature experiment at Magma Factory.
(2)Hawaii Project
Hawaii is the largest hotspot on the Earth. It is like a window through which we can look and find the substance that rises from the deep Earth. Many studies about Hawaii have been carried out, but the fundamental question is not yet understood. What is the source of plume that yields Hawaiian volcanism? Our goal in the Hawaii project is to propose a petrologic and chemical model of Hawaiian volcanism and hot plume dynamics.
(3) Eruption processes of Volcanoes
Many volcanoes in Japan (e.g. Mt.Fuji, Izu-Ohshima, Mt.Asama) have a high possibility of eruption. It is important to predict when and how they erupt. We investigate past volcanism and infer the state of the magma chamber. We also reconstruct experimentally the crystallizing process at various depths. Through these efforts in volcanology, we believe that the prediction of future eruptions will be achieved.
