Through geoscientific modeling, we conducted research to elucidate the principles of slow earthquakes. Specifically, the research was divided into three parts: (A) clarification of the temporal and spatial relationships among slow earthquake phenomena, (B) modeling in realistic plate tectonic systems, and (C) investigation of the predictability of plate motion including giant earthquakes.
In (A), we made a major contribution to understanding the relationship between apparently different phenomena, focusing on the clarification of the broadband picture of slow earthquakes. In (B), we developed various models incorporating realistic factors such as heat, water, and multiple faults. In (C), experimental studies were particularly advanced, and a major achievement was the understanding of the two-dimensional growth of the rupture nucleus. We also obtained clues for new research directions using machine learning.