Historical Seismograms - Evidence from the AD 2000 Izu Islands ...

14 W. H. K. Lee, H. Meyers, and K. Shirnazakzniic risks, particularly in areas where the recurrence rate of significant earthquakesis very low and for regions where much data do riot exist. He mentioned that boththese conditions occur frequently in developing nations.The second, third, and fourth sessions provided an opportunity for the participantsto describe the status of historical seismograms in their country. Generally,all countries indicated that there is activity relating to the preservation of historicalseismograms. The level of activity varies from country to country. The importancein preserving original seismograms, whether filmed or not, was stressed by severalparticipants. The first task which appears to have been completed by most countriesis the identification of the older seismic stations and the instrumentation. Insome countries, work has riot yet been completed in identifying whether the recordsstill exist or where they are located. For many countries, particularly in Europe, therecords have generally been located and some of them are well organized. In somecases filming has been done, or at least tests in various filming procedures have beenstarted. Almost all of the reports indicated two serious conditions which prevail:(1) Many of the oldest records, particularly those which are smoked paper, are deterioratingand are in fragile condition, and (2) Many records for significant eventsare missing. In past years these records were lent to seismologists in other countriesand probably never returned. An appeal was made for the return of seismogramsto the station of origin.During the fifth session, the speakers reflected on some of the experiences gainedthus far in the Historical Seismogram Filming Project. The status of a relatedproject, including microfilm collection of historical station bulletins, was described.Most of the participants of the Sessions prepared abstracts in advance which provideddetails on the status of historical seismogram projects. The possibility ofpublishing full papers or extended abstracts for the Tokyo and Hamburg meetingis being considered.The last session was devoted to recommendations. The workshop participantsmade ten recommendations which were eventually written into four substantialresolutions, incorporating all of the aspects of the recommendations. The criticalaspects of these four resolutions were reconstructed into one major resolution whichwas submitted to IASPEI and eventually passed as an official IASPEI resolution.3. Resolutions Adopted by the Working Group(1) The Working Group notes and approves the progress in copying and preservinghistorical seismograms and other seismological documents of continuing importanceto research, re-affirms the resolutions of its meeting in Tokyo in 1982, Dec.20-22, and urges IASPEI and Unesco to continue their valued support, and toconsider the following additional resolutions:(2) Realizing that continued delay in collecting and copying historical records willresult in further deterioration and loss of irreplaceable data, The Working Grouprecommends: (a) That World Data Centers and Regional Commissions compilelists of earthquakes believed to have been large, destructive, or to have occurredin some unusual location, or to possess some other special rarity; (b) That CentroRegional de Sismologia para America del Sur and Pan American Institute ofGeography and History ascertain what records from stations in South and CentralAmerica still exist, where they are stored, and what their physical conditionis; and recommend at least two stations in the region for immediate filming