The main objectives of Frontier Research Program for Subduction Dynamics (FRPSD) are to ; (1) examine and reveal the mechanism of subduction zone earthquakes around Japan, (2) plan and carry out geophysical cruises and make related geophysical and geological observations of the trenches and associated subduction zones around Japan in support of (1) . In order to fulfill the above objectives, FRPSD research focuses on dynamics of the deep sea trenches using multi-channel seismic reflection (MCS) and Ocean Bottom Seismograph (OBS) tools and integration of these and existing data through sophisticated database procedure. In this paper, a brief introduction and application are presented of FRPSD's geophysical digital database. Marine geophysical data of bathymetry, geomagnetics, gravity, heat flow measurements, and crustal structure have been accumulated since the 1960's all over the world by oceanographic institutions including the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) . We are developing a universal marine geophysical database system and making compilations and analyses of these data.
Several research vessels in JAMSTEC are equipped with the various required marine geophysical instruments. Geophysical data sets obtained by cruises are entered into the JAMSTEC Database. Subsequent selection, editing and formatting are then done to arrange the Frontier Database. The Frontier Database is then added to as additional Frontier data which are collected, employed for realistic parameters in modeling and simulation studies, and served as the basis for further cruise planning in less data dense areas.
Compilation of crustal structure, marine geomagnetic and gravity data off NE Japan is in progress to clarify characteristics of subducting plate magnetic lineations and trench gravity anomalies. Using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional forward modeling of magnetic and gravity data, with seismic structural data in the Frontier Database, a qualitative interpretation of the geometry, densities, magnetization and thermal regime of these subducting plates is discussed. The features of geophysical properties are related to their origins, subsequent deformation and other possible processes of subduction. Several subduction models will continue to be examined as additional data are obtained by future Frontier surveys.
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