Opening Address of the 14th International Symposium on Earth
Tides
(on behalf of
Prof. N. Kaifu, Director General of National Astronomical Observatory)
Shoken Miyama
Associate Director of General of National
Astronomical Observatory, Japan
Good
morning, ladies and gentlemen.
I am
Shoken Miyama, the executive vice director of National Astronomical Observatory
of Japan, NAOJ. As the representative of the host institute, I would like to
say it is my great pleasure to welcome to you to Japan, and welcome to Mizusawa
and to the 14th International Symposium on Earth Tides.
First
of this symposium, on behalf of the Director, Norio Kaifu, I wish to extend our
heartiest welcome to the scientists, secretarial staff and others who have come
to this symposium from many countries. Especially we are honored by so many
distinguished guests, the president of International Association of Geodesy,
Special Commission 3, Professor Groten and the president of IAG Commission V,
Professor Takemoto.
This
city, Mizusawa is the birthplace of geodetic study in Japan. About a century
ago, in 1899, the International Latitude Observatory of Mizusawa was founded
under the program of the International Latitude Service in this city. After
that as the center of Japanese Earth-Geodynamics, there have been many famous
scientists and their works. Especially the work by the first director of the
observatory, Professor Kimura, is World famous by the Z-term of Polar motion of
Earth. The name of this city hall, "Z-Hall," comes from his
discovery.
NAOJ
was established in 1988, integrating the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory of the
University of Tokyo, the International Latitude Observatory of Mizusawa, and
the solar radio group of the Research Institute of Atmospherics, Nagoya
University. Because the proper combination between the astronomy and the
geodynamics will make good effects for both fields. In order to promote
open-use of the observatory facilities for country-wide researchers, these
three research centers were reorganized as NAOJ. After the establishment of
NAOJ, in the Mizusawa, as a branch of NAOJ there are the Earth Rotation
Division and the Mizusawa Astrogeodynamics Observatory. There are about 30
scientists. They are studying about Radio Geodynamics, Earth Rotation,
Geodynamical data processing, Earth Deformation, Earth Tides and Gravity.
Especially in the field of Earth Tides, we have Observation Facilities, The
Esashi Earth Tides Station. That is located about 20 km east of the Mizusawa
campus and consists of an observation tunnel and a gravity measurement room. In
the near future we have some planes to investigate planet and moon tides also.
In Mizusawa Astrogeodynamics Observatory there are young scientists from several
Universities and some graduate students who are actively studying about Earth
Tides.
Therefore
that the 14th International Symposium on Earth Tides is held at this city and
recent developments, instrumentation, observation and theory about the earth tide
can be discussed here is very meaningful from the historical viewpoint as well
as the educational viewpoint.
Before
end of my opening address, I would like to say special thanks to the Sponsors,
International Association of Geodesy, Commission V: Earth Tide Commission,
National Committee for Geodesy, Science Council of Japan, and Geodetic Society
of Japan. And also thanks to Cosponsors, Iwate Prefecture and Mizusawa City. In
conclusion, I offer to this Symposium my best wishes for success and to each of
the participants a happy and meaningful stay in this city. Thank you very much
for your kind attention.