Solid Earth Science Section

The Solid Earth Science covers various research subjects, for instance, the structure and history of the Earth, earthquake and volcanoes, rocks and minerals, and recently extends to those of terrestrial planets.  Thus, our research methods comprise physical and chemical observations and geological surveys in a filed, physical experiments and chemical analysis in a laboratory, and theoretical and numerical modeling, etc.  Furthermore, we handle a wide range of space and time, from atom to whole Earth for scale, micro-seconds to giga-years for time.  We have challenged to reveal the composition, state, and structure of the solid Earth consisting of the crust, mantle, and core, that is a snapshot of the evolution process of the Earth at the present time.  To understand and forecast the Earth’s evolution, it is important to study geological records left on the surface of the Earth and to analyze rocks that reflect mantle information of each geological era with petrological and geochemical methods and to consider theoretical and numerical modeling with time.

Investigation of sedimentary rocks throughout the geological time is essential for understanding surface environmental changes.  And the transport and circulation of volatile components since the formation of the Earth are closely related to the atmospheric and marine environments.  Therefore, it is important to make interdisciplinary cooperation with the studies on environmental changes in the Earth's surface, ocean, and atmosphere.  A viewpoint of the planet Earth such as the origin of the Earth, the formation of the central core in the early Earth, the relationship between the giant impact and the formation of the Earth-moon system is also essential in solid Earth science.  Solid Earth science includes researches on applied science such as exploration of resources and mitigation of natural disasters that are related to human activity, in addition to the aspect of pure basic science.

Finally, in the Solid Earth Science section, we organized new focus groups for research fields that do not fit into the framework of existing academic societies.  They not only promote session proposals and provide opportunities for research promotion and information exchange, but also have a function as a window for international societies such as AGU, IUGG, EGU, AOGS, etc.  Currently, we have vigorously active four focus groups: Earth’s interior science, hard rock drilling science, thermochronology on Earth’s surface processes, and ocean floor Earth science.