Long-Term Monitoring Using Deep Seafloor Boreholes Penetrating the Seismogenic Zone

Large earthquakes occur frequently in subduction zones. Most earthquakes are generated in the seismogenic zone, a fairly limited area confined to the shallower regions of the subduction plate boundary. To understand the processes of earthquake generation, it is essential to monitor the physical and mechanical properties of the seismogenic zone over long periods. At present, there are no deep borehole observations of the seismogenic zone more than-km below seafloor, because it has, until now, been impossible to penetrate to such depths below the sea floor. The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), scheduled to begin in,**-, plans to drill boreholes beneath the ocean floor using a multiple-drilling platform operation. The IODP riser-quipped drilling ship (Chikyu) enables the emplacement of boreholes up to 0km beneath the ocean floor, and will provide opportunities to conduct long-term deep borehole observations in the seismogenic zone. Long-term borehole observations in the seismogenic zone are expected to require the development of advanced sampling, monitoring, and recording technology. Here, we discuss the scientific objectives, engi-neering and technical challenges, and experimental design for a deep borehole, long-term deep-borehole monitoring system aimed at understanding the processes of earthquake generation in th