Kyoto University · Earth and Planetary Sciences
Professor Katsuaki Koike's research lab specializes in geothermal energy assessment and radon-based geophysical monitoring, focusing on the interplay between subsurface fluid dynamics, seismic activity, and geochemical signals. The lab investigates how radon gas concentrations in soil and groundwater respond to tectonic strain and seismicity, aiming to develop early warning indicators for earthquakes. It also conducts advanced 3D temperature modeling using borehole data and remote sensing to evaluate geothermal resource potential. The lab integrates field measurements, laboratory experiments, and geostatistical modeling to understand subsurface processes in active tectonic zones.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
This study demonstrates how the radon-222 (222Rn) concentration of soil gas at an active fault is sensitive to cumulative recent seismicity by examining seven active faults in western Japan. The 222Rn concentration was found to correlate well with the total earthquake energy within a 100-km radius of each fault. This phenomenon can probably be ascribed to the increase of pore pressure around the source depth of 222Rn in shallow soil caused by frequently induced strain. This increase in pore pres
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