Caltech Honors Hiroo Kanamori on His 90th Birthday
Caltech Honors Hiroo Kanamori on His 90th Birthday
Colleagues at the California Institute of Technology’s Seismological Laboratory recently gathered to mark the 90th birthday of Hiroo Kanamori, a foundational figure in modern seismology. The event honored Kanamori’s legacy as a former lab director and his status as the most cited scientist in his field for thirty years.
The California Institute of Technology’s Seismological Laboratory in Pasadena recently held a celebration to mark the 90th birthday of Hiroo Kanamori, professor emeritus and former director of the institution. The gathering honored Kanamori’s extensive career and his enduring impact on the scientific understanding of earthquakes.
Kanamori is recognized for his status as the most prolific and highly cited seismologist globally between 1991 and 2021. His research has been instrumental in shaping modern seismology, particularly through the development of the moment magnitude scale alongside scientist Tom Hanks. This metric replaced earlier methods to provide a more accurate measurement of earthquake size.
Beyond theoretical contributions, Kanamori’s work advanced the understanding of large earthquakes and seismic hazard mitigation. During his tenure leading the laboratory, the Southern California Seismic Network expanded its capabilities and strengthened its monitoring infrastructure.
Colleagues at the lab expressed their appreciation for his ongoing influence on the discipline. In a social media post marking the occasion, they wrote: “We’re grateful for his continuing work and lasting contributions to the field and to the Seismo Lab … Happy 90th birthday, Dr. Kanamori, aka Kanamori Sensei.”
L.Costa--MJ
