USGS Educational Slides

The 03/11/2011 Mw9.
0 Tohoku,
Japan Earthquake
Educational Slides
Created & Compiled by Gavin Hayes & David Wald

U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
Contributions from:
Kuo-Wan Lin, USGS NEIC
Mike Hearne, USGS NEIC
Lisa Wald, USGS NEIC
Harley Benz, USGS NEIC
Erol Kalkan, USGS Menlo Park
Volkan Sevilgen, USGS Menlo Park
Jascha Polet, Cal Poly Pomona

Charles Ammon, Penn State University
Guangfu Shao, U. California, Santa Barbara
Gavin Hayes and Mike Hearne are contracted to work for the USGS NEIC by Synergetics Inc., Fort Collins, CO.
Offshore Honshu, Japan Earthquake, 03/09/2011, Mw 7.2

USGS ShakeMap : NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Wed Mar 9, 2011 02:45:20 GMT M 7.2 N38.42 E142.84 Depth: 32.0km ID:b0001r57
M 7.2, NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
PAGER
Version 4
Origin Time: Wed 2011-03-09 02:45:20 UTC (11:45:20 local)

o
o
Location: 38.42 N 142.84 E Depth: 32 km
FOR TSUNAMI INFORMATION, SEE: tsunami.noaa.gov
Hachinohe
Estimated Fatalities
odate
Created: 21 hours, 44 minutes after earthquake
Estimated Economic Losses
Green alert for shaking-related fatalities

and economic losses. There is a low
likelihood of casualties and damage.
Iwate
40
Akita
Miyako
Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking
Kitakami
ESTIMATED POPULATION
EXPOSURE (k = x1000)
- -*
2,462k* 5,120k*
2,708k
17
ESTIMATED MODIFIED
MERCALLI INTENSITY
Ichinoseki
PERCEIVED SHAKING
POTENTIAL
DAMAGE
Furukawa
Resistant
Structures
Vulnerable
Structures
Not felt
Weak
Light
Moderate
Strong
Very Strong
Severe
Violent
Extreme
none
none
none
V. Light
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
none
none
none
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
V. Heavy
*Estimated exposure only includes population within the map area.
Population Exposure
Sendai
population per ~1 sq. km from Landscan
Nanyo
38
Fukushima
Historical Earthquakes (with MMI levels):

Date
Dist. Mag.
Max
Shaking
(UTC)
(km)
MMI(#)
Deaths
2003-10-31 73 7.0 V(7,236k)
0
1980-09-23 388 5.3 V(12,718k)
1
1983-05-26 385 7.7 VII(174k)
104
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused
secondary hazards such as tsunamis,
landslides, and fires that might have
contributed to losses.
Koriyama
Iwaki
Takahagi
km
Mito
50
Structures:
Overall, the population in this region resides
in structures that are resistant to earthquake
shaking, though some vulnerable structures
exist.
100
Selected City Exposure

from GeoNames.org
144
142
140
MMI City
V Ishinomaki
V Otsuchi
V Kamaishi
V Hanamaki
V Yamada
V Yamoto
V Sendai
IV Morioka
IV Fukushima
III Utsunomiya
III Yamagata
Map Version 4 Processed Wed Mar 9, 2011 05:27:14 PM MST -- NOT REVIEWED BY HUMAN
PERCEIVED
SHAKING
POTENTIAL
DAMAGE
Not felt Weak
Light
Moderate Strong Very strong
none
none
none
Very light
PEAK ACC.(%g)
<.17
.17-1.4
1.4-3.9
PEAK VEL.(cm/s)
<0.1
0.1-1.1 1.1-3.4
INSTRUMENTAL
INTENSITY
II-III
IV
Severe
Violent
Extreme
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
Very Heavy
Light
Moderate
3.9-9.2
9.2-18
18-34
34-65
65-124
>124
3.4-8.1
8.1-16
16-31
31-60
60-116
>116
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X+
PAGER content is automatically generated, and only considers losses due to structural damage.
Limitations of input data, shaking estimates, and loss models may add uncertainty.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/pager
bold cities appear on map
Population
117k
16k
43k
73k
20k
32k
1,038k
295k
294k
450k
255k
(k = x1000)
Event ID: usb0001r57
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake, 03/11/2011, Mw 9.0

USGS ShakeMap : NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Fri Mar 11, 2011 05:46:23 GMT M 9.0 N38.32 E142.37 Depth: 32.0km ID:c0001xgp

40
PAGER
Version 7
Origin Time: Fri 2011-03-11 05:46:23 UTC (14:46:23 local)

o
o
odate
Created: 4 days, 9 hours after earthquake
Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive

damage is probable and the disaster is likely
widespread. Estimated economic losses are
0-1% GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert
level have required a national or international
level response.
Akita
Kitakami
Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities.

Significant casualties are likely.
Sakata

Sendai
PERCEIVED SHAKING
Niigata
38
POTENTIAL
DAMAGE
Suzu
Koriyama
anazawa
6k*
Resistant
Structures
Vulnerable
Structures
Not felt
Weak
Light
Moderate
Strong
none
none
none
V. Light
Light
none
none
none
Light
Moderate
2,483k* 15,269k* 10,864k*
36,088k*
6,781k*
66k
Very Strong
Severe
Violent
Extreme
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
V. Heavy
Population Exposure
Muika
Nanao
- -*
ESTIMATED MODIFIED
MERCALLI INTENSITY
Iwaki
Utsunomiya
Kumagaya
36
Date
Dist. Mag.
Max
Shaking
(UTC)
(km)
MMI(#)
Deaths
1998-06-14 363 5.7 VII(428k)
0
1994-12-28 263 7.7 VII(132k)
3
1983-05-26 369 7.7 VII(174k)
104
Ina
Tokyo
Mino
Nagoya
Yokosuka
km
Hamamatsu
75
Structures:
exist. The predominant vulnerable building
types are non-ductile reinforced concrete
frame and heavy wood frame construction.
150

from GeoNames.org
144
142
140
138
MMI City
IX Iwanuma
IX Rifu
IX Shiogama
IX Hitachi
VIII Takahagi
VIII Ishinomaki
VIII Sendai
VIII Chiba
VII Yokohama
VII Tokyo
V Nagoya
Map Version 6 Processed Tue Mar 15, 2011 08:39:58 AM MDT -- NOT REVIEWED BY HUMAN
PERCEIVED
SHAKING
POTENTIAL
DAMAGE
Not felt Weak
Light
Moderate Strong Very strong
none
none
none
Very light
PEAK ACC.(%g)
<.17
.17-1.4
1.4-3.9
PEAK VEL.(cm/s)
<0.1
0.1-1.1 1.1-3.4
INSTRUMENTAL
INTENSITY
II-III
IV
Severe
Violent
Extreme
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
Very Heavy
Light
Moderate
3.9-9.2
9.2-18
18-34
34-65
65-124
>124
3.4-8.1
8.1-16
16-31
31-60
60-116
>116
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X+
Population
42k
35k
60k
186k
34k
117k
1,038k
920k
3,574k
8,337k
2,191k
(k = x1000)
Event ID: usc0001xgp
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: ShakeMap Evolution

V1: O.T. +21 min M7.9
V2: O.T. +40 min M8.8
(Led to PAGER RED Alert

42.9 minutes after origin)
V3: O.T. +1 hr 9 min M8.9
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: ShakeMap Evolution
V4: O.T. +2 h 22 min

M8.9
DYFI data
Finite fault inferred
from aftershocks
V5: OT +2 d 11 hr
M9.0
DYFI Data
12 K-NET stations
Finite fault inferred
from aftershocks
V6: OT +3 d 9 hr
M9.0
DYFI Data
273 K-NET stations
Finite fault from KNET (NIED) inversion
Mainshock ShakeMap,
assumed fault
(rectangle), and
JMA Intensity Map
PAGER
Version 5
Origin Time: Fri 2011-03-11 05:46:23 UTC (14:46:23 local)

o
o
Created: 2 hours, 44 minutes after earthquake
Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive

damage is probable and the disaster is likely
widespread. Estimated economic losses are less
than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this
alert level have required a national or
international level response.
Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities.

Significant casualties are likely.

- -*
- -*
- -*
7,071k*
19,695k*
29,969k*
2,144k
Not felt
Weak
Light
Moderate
Strong
Very Strong
Severe
Violent
Extreme
none
none
none
V. Light
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
none
none
none
Light
Moderate
Moderate/Heavy
Heavy
V. Heavy
V. Heavy
ESTIMATED MODIFIED
MERCALLI INTENSITY
PERCEIVED SHAKING
POTENTIAL
DAMAGE
Resistant
Structures
Vulnerable
Structures
Population Exposure
Structures:
exist. The predominant vulnerable building
types are non-ductile reinforced concrete
frame and heavy wood frame construction.
Date
Dist. Mag.
Max
Shaking
(UTC)
(km)
MMI(#)
Deaths
1998-06-14 363 5.7 VII(428k)
0
1994-12-28 263 7.7 VII(132k)
3
1983-05-26 369 7.7 VII(174k)
104

from GeoNames.org
MMI City
VIII Omigawa
VIII Oarai
VIII Hasaki
VIII Itako
VIII Ofunato
VIII Takahagi
VII Sendai
VII Chiba
VII Tokyo
VI Yokohama
V Shizuoka
Population
26k
19k
39k
26k
35k
34k
1,038k
920k
8,337k
3,574k
702k
(k = x1000)
Event ID: usc0001xgp
Shaking & Aftershocks

(as of March 13th)
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Shaking Duration in Tokyo,

Ground Acceleration
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Shaking Duration in Tokyo,

Ground Velocity

Peak Ground Motion Acceleration (PGA) of the 11 March 2011 Tohoku M=9.0 earthquake
K-Net
stations
KiK-Net
(surface)
KiK-Net
(downhole
100 m)

Send
Sendai
11 March 2011
M=9.0
PGA(g)

Tokyo

Strong-motion
stations
Maximum PGA of 2.7g was recorded at Miyagi Prefecture

Erol Kalkan & Volkan Sevilgen (USGS)

March 17, 2011
Peak Ground Motion Acceleration (PGA) of the 11 March 2011 Tohoku M=9.0 earthquake
Tokyo Metropolitan and its surroundings
KiK-Net
(Surface)
Peak Ground
Acceleration (g)
KiK-Net
Downhole
(100 m)
Latitude()
K-NET
Tokyo
50 Km
Longitude()
Population Density (Landscan)
Strong motion stations
Maximum PGA of 0.16g was recorded at Tokyo Metropolitan
March 17, 2011

Erol Kalkan & Volkan Sevilgen (USGS)
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Aftershock (and Foreshock)

Sequence, 03/08/11 - 03/16/11
Slab Contours from Slab1.0, every 20 km
Mw 7.3 Foreshock
Mw 9.0 Mainshock

Mw 7.7 Aftershock
Mw 7.9 Aftershock

03/09
03/11
03/13
03/15
03/17 03/19
Date (Month/Day)
Note that the magnitudes of the 2011/03/11 06:15 (Mw 7.9) and 2011/03/11 06:25 (Mw 7.7) aftershocks were
updated from earlier, lower estimates. Updates occurred on 03/16 and 03/18, respectively.
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Aftershock (and Foreshock)

Sequence, M:Time History
Magnitude (M)
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
03/09
03/11
03/13
03/15
Date (Month/Day)
03/17
03/19
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Tectonic Summary

The magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake on March 11,
2011, which occurred near the northeast coast of
Honshu, Japan, resulted from thrust faulting on or
near the subduction zone plate boundary between the
Pacific and North America plates. At the latitude of
this earthquake, the Pacific plate moves approximately
westwards with respect to the North America plate at
a rate of 83 mm/yr, and begins its westward descent
beneath Japan at the Japan Trench.

Eurasia Plate
North America Plate

The location, depth, and focal mechanism of the March

11 earthquake are consistent with the event having
occurred on the subduction zone plate boundary.

Modeling of the rupture of this earthquake (red

shading, approx.) indicate that the fault moved
upwards of 30-40 m, and slipped over an area
approximately 300 km long (along-strike) by 150 km
wide (in the down-dip direction). The rupture zone is
roughly centered on the earthquake epicenter alongstrike, while peak slips were up-dip of the hypocenter,
towards the Japan Trench axis. The March 11
earthquake was preceded by a series of large
foreshocks over the previous two days, beginning on
March 9th with a M 7.2 event approximately 40 km
from the epicenter of the March 11 earthquake, and
continuing with another three earthquakes greater
than M 6 on the same day.

83 mm/yr

Pacific Plate

Philippine Sea Plate

1
Japan Regional Seismicity, 1900-2007

USGS Poster/Open File Report 2010-1083-D
IA
gh
ou
r
1973
Ch'ongjin
Taejon
Pusan
n
H o
St
ra
1906
Fukuoka
Got Rett
Hiroshima
it
Shimonoseki
Kita
Kyushu
Matsuyama
Sh
iko
1944
ku
To s a
Bank
Nagasaki
a
1968
Kyushu
1909
1946
n o
1931
1961 1941
s)
C
N
sl
a
u
y
T
O
T
A
K
T
c
28
-300
O g
a s a
w a r a
e a
P l a t
26
PROFILE D
24
lc
(Vo
-600
an
oI
sl a
0
10
ds
0
20
Mangetsu
Basin
132
134
100 C'
136
30
0
138
140
Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

SCALE 1:6 000 000
100
200
400
22
2000
S E A
2007
1914
600
800
Kilometers
i Daikoku
d
n
N C H
R E
100
60
145
20
0
10
0
-ret t
-300
140
Ka za n
Others
-100
-500
142
Magnitude classes
144
Depth of focus
45.9
069 km
66.4
70299 km
6.56.9
300700 km
77.4
7.9
8.0
Nucleation points
Active volcanoes
Earth structure
Air
Crust
Upper mantle
Transition zone
PROFILE C
-200
-200
Iwo-jima
7.8
45
-300
D'
Kita-io-jim a
7.7
-200
135
130
0
-400
-400
7.6
25
130
Ridge
w a r a ( Bonin Is lands)
asa
ot
O g awara- S h
s
O ga
-100
30
7.5
67
125
100
128
-200
-100
Transform
120
n
a i
C h
70
25
Subduction
0
60
63
n t
o u
a m
S e
-300
Divergent
Suggested citation:
Rhea, Susan, Tarr, A.C., Hayes, Gavin, Villaseor,
Antonio, and Benz, H.M., 2010, Seismicity of the earth
19002007, Japan and vicinity: U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 20101083-D, scale 1:6,000,000.
-400
Manuscript approved for publication July 28, 2010
49
PHILIPPINE SEA
PLATE
126
C
PROFILE B
D -500
Hahajima-rett
124
30
57
i s
Digital map database and cartography by Susan Rhea and Arthur Tarr
53
51
122
Albers Equal Area Conic Projection
32
asi
hda B
-100
i t
o
P H I L I P P I N E
30
80.0100.0
Plate boundaries
56
PACIFIC
PLATE
100 B'
-400
.
35
47
1998
120
90
39
EURASIA (AMUR)
PLATE
R i
d g e
ara
Nadez
rett
Mukojima--jima
Yome
Chichijimarett
JAPAN
-300
Tori-shima
SOUTH
KOREA
i t
o
OKHOTSK
PLATE
35
i n
A PDF for this map is available at

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1083/d/
For sale by U.S. Geological Survey Information Services

Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225
1-888-ASK-USGS
60.079.9
I-
ge
This map was produced on request, directly from

digital files, on an electronic plotter.
N
N A
Ok i-Da it o
Te rrace
O
k
i
-100
-100
asaw
Izu - Og
Rise
Although this information product, for the most part, is in

the public domain, it also contains copyrighted materials
as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted
items for other than personal use must be secured from
the copyright owner.
1915
1972
20.039.9
40.059.9
C'
id
oR
11.019.9
40
6.49.8
Relative plate motion
Naha
Koh
Kita-Daito Basin
3.26.4
Kaoshsiung
NORTH
KOREA
id
1959
22
83
0.81.6
T'ainan
RUSSIA
CHINA
1920
1951
0.40.8
40
1999
Okinaw
e a
P'e nghu
Ch'untao
145
45
0.20.4
Any use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
T'aichung
n
(R
o
ot
t
1938
Sh
o
h
e i o Jima- S
Miyak
s
60
an
i
N aki
Iriom ote Jima Ishig
Jiman s e
Ya
S
ey a
t t
Na
m a - re
O100
1910
1922
24
00.2 m/s
Taipei
TA I WA
140
8 - 8.7
135
200
130
Fuzhou
SEISMIC HAZARD AND RELATIVE PLATE MOTION
26
a
r i
-200
-200
Tokuno Shima
A m a m i
1911
60
e
is
125
n
n a
K i
28
Amami Shima
-300
34
B'
1972
R i d g e
120
50
0
Kikai
Basin
45
1953
-400
Cipa
1909
60
EAST CHIN
A SEA
1923
Sumis u-shim a
Hangzhou
-500
Aoga-shima
0
40
30
Others
36
-600
Hachij o-shim a
Divergent
300700 km
A S
Shanghai
Transform
069 km
70299 km
O G
Nanjing
Hefei
re
38
1923
Ko
Subduction
Depth of focus
Beck, S.L., and Ruff, L.J., 1987, Rupture process of the great 1963 Kuril Islands earthquake sequenceAsperity
interaction and multiple event rupture: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 92, no. B13, p. 1412314138.
Bird, Peter, 2003, An updated digital model of plate boundaries: Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, v. 4, no. 3, 52 p.
DeMets, C., Gordon, R.G., Argus, D.F., and Stein, S., 1994, Effects of recent revisions to the geomagnetic time scale
on estimates of current plate motions: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 21, p. 21912194.
Engdahl, E.R., and Villaseor, Antonio, 2002, Global seismicity 19001999, in Lee, W.H.K., Jennings,
P., Kisslinger, C., and Kanamori, H., eds, International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering
Seismology, v. 81(A), chap. 41, p. 126.
ESRI, 2002, ESRI Data and Maps: ESRI, Redlands, CA
Fukao, Yoshio, and Furumoto, Muneyoshi, 1979, Stress drops, wave spectra and recurrence intervals of
PRE-INSTRUMENTAL SEISMICITY 15001899
great earthquakesImplications of the Etorofu earthquake of 1958 November 6: Geophysical Journal
M 7.5, tsunami, or deaths
International, v. 57, p. 2340.
GEBCO, 2008, The GEBCO_08_Grid, ver. 20091120, accessed January 8, 2010 at
http://www.gebco.net/.
Giardini, D., Grnthal, G., Shedlock, K., Zhang, P., and Global Seismic Hazards Program, 1999, Global
Seismic Hazards Map, accessed January 9, 2007 at http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/GSHAP.
1843
Hayes, G,. and Wald, D., 2010, Slab models for subduction zones: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake
1679
1763
Hazards Program, accessed February 23, 2010 at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/data/slab/.
1677
1897
1896
Kawakatsu, H. and Seno, Tetsuo, 1983, Triple seismic zone and the regional variation of seismicity
1611
along the northern Honshu arc: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 88, no. B5, p. 42154230.
1897
1847
1793
Kikuchi, Matsayuki, and Kanamori, Hiroo, 1995, The Shikotan earthquake of October 4, 1994
Lithospheric earthquake: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 22, no. 9, p. 10251028.
1891
1898
Miyazaki, Shin-ichi, Segall, Paul, Fukuda, Junichi, and Kato, Teryyuki, 2004, Space time distribution of
1586
afterslip following the 2003 Tokachi-oki earthquakeImplications for variations in fault zone
1668
1703
frictional properties: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 31, no. L06623, p. 14.
1707
NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, 2010, : U.S. Dept of Commerce, accessed March 31, 2010
1854
at
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazards.
1854
Siebert, L., and Simkin, T., 2002, Volcanoes of the worldAn illustrated catalog of Holocene
volcanoes and their eruptions: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital
Information series, GVP-3, http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/, last accessed January 9, 2007.
Tarr, A.C., Villaseor, Antonio, Furlong, K.P., Rhea, Susan, and Benz, H.M, 2010, Seismicity of the
Earth 19002007: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3064,
1604
Magnitude
scale 1:25,000,000.
0 - 7.9
Cheju-do
600
8.2
I Z U
32
1938
-shima
Nii-shi ma
Kzu-shima Miyaki-shim a
Mikura-shima
Osaka
g e
R i d
s ) 00
i m a
l an d 2
- O z
zu Is
i t o
o t (I
S i t
Izu-Sh
300
h i t o
- S h i c
N i s h i
CHIN
REFERENCES
500
8.1
Kawasaki
10
0
Kyoto
Kobe
Base map data sources include GEBCO 2008, Volcanoes of the World dataset (Siebert and Simkin, 2002),
plate boundaries (Bird, 2003), Digital Chart of the World, and ESRI (2002).
400
Plate boundaries
Tokyo
Yokohama
Nagoya
34
ShimonoTsushima
Shima
300
8.0
8.1
8.2
Lower mantle
DEPTH
146 PROFILE EXPLANATION
Distance (km)
Profiles of earthquake and volcano

locations are constructed from the
mapped data. Locations of the profile
intersection with the surface are drawn
in the map and labeled to coincide with
the profile label. Box defines extent of
earthquakes included in profile. Length
of the profile graphic is the same as in
the map. Distance in kilometers from the
trench axis is indicated in the X
direction, depth in kilometers is
indicated in the Y direction. There is no
vertical exaggeration. See Explanation
at side for color key. Not all earth layers,
earthquake depths or magnitudes, are
visible on every map.
100
200
TRENCH AXIS
0
-100
Depth (km)
Kwangju
60
Gifu
Pre-instrumental seismicity was obtained from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center (2010) database
of significant earthquakes; locations are approximate, based on macro-seismic reports and field investigations.
We selected for earthquakes with associated reports of moderate to major damage, deaths, an estimated
magnitude of 7.5 or greater, or tsunami generation.
200
7.9
Taegu
100
Dgo
Dzen
A'
100
7.8
ot
Chonju
ki
1933
60 km
7.7
uy
SEA
Mean slab depth
7.6
YELLOW
The Seismic Hazard and Relative Plate Motion panel displays the generalized seismic hazard of the region
(Giardini and others, 1999) and representative relative plate motion vectors using the NUVEL-1A model
(DeMets, et.al., 1994.)
1938
1938 1938
Tu s i m a
Basin
Ch'ungju
The nucleation points of great earthquakes (M8.3) are designated with a label showing the year of
occurrence. Their rupture areas are shown as pale yellow polygons. Major earthquakes (7.5M8.2) are
labeled with the year of occurrence. Slab contours are from Hayes and Wald (2010).
1915
1978
40
Qingdao
J A PA N
e
dg
Active volcanoes
77.4
SOUTH
KOREA
36
Syun-Yo
Rise
Rupture zones
6.56.9
Ya m a t o
Basin
Dokdo
(Admin by S. Korea)
Nucleation points
45.9
66.4
Inch`on
Seoul
Honshu
60
Jinan
nk
Kaesong
PROFILE A
-600
Ba
-500
Ris
Sendai
Ko
DATA SOURCES
The earthquakes portrayed on the main map and the depth profiles are taken from two sources: (a) the
Centennial earthquake catalog (Engdahl and Villaseor, 2002) and annual supplements for the interval 19002007, where the magnitude floor is 5.5 globally, and (b) a catalog of earthquakes having high-quality depth
determinations for the period 1964-2002 and a magnitude range of 5.0M5.4 (Engdahl, personal comm.
2003)
1960
1964
re
an
Ya
at
at
1994
n
Ba
MAP EXPLANATION
Magnitude classes
42
38
te
Wonsan
P'yongyang
Korea Bay
Dalian
la
BO HA
I
-400
1931
1983
to
a-
NORTH
KOREA
Tianjin
-300
500
Sinuiju
Tangshan
7.5
1901
Aomori
600
1976
1994
1968
200
it
-200
44
n
e
1968
400
Beijing
Anshan
40
1952
300
bo
2003
i n
Fushun
Shenyang
Ha
1993
Bogorov
Ridge
-100
1973
60
1993
Several relevant tectonic elements, plate boundaries and active volcanoes, provide a context for the
seismicity presented on the main map. The plate boundaries (Bird, 2003) are known most accurately
along the axis of the trenches and are more diffuse or speculative in the Sea of Japan, China, and Russia.
The active volcanic arcs (Siebert and Simkin, 2002) follow the Izu, Volcano, and Ryukyu island chains
and the main Japanese islands parallel to the Japan trench.
100
Hokkaido
Sapporo
Vladivostok
1969
s.
Tr
R
Jilin
A'
100
1978
Kunish ir
sh
1995
1978
is
-100
1963
1978
1958
1978
-200
T R E N C H
-300
IL
OPEN-FILE REPORT 20101083-D

Version 1.0
152
1963
-400
ta
-500
Ta
-600
150
IturupA N
L
IS
S
S
U
-700
-800
-900
42
Subduction zones at the Japanese island arcs are geologically complex and produce numerous
earthquakes from multiple sources. Deformation of the overriding plates generates shallow crustal
earthquakes, whereas slip at the interface of the plates generates interplate earthquakes that extend from
near the base of the trench to depths of 40 to 60 km. At greater depths, Japanese arc earthquakes occur
within the subducting Pacific and Philippine Sea plates and can reach depths of nearly 700 km. Since
1900, two great earthquakes occurred off Japan and three north of Hokkaido. They are the M8.4 1933
Sanriku-oki earthquake (Kawakatsu and Seno, 1983), the M8.3 2003 Tokachi-oki earthquake (Miyazaki
and others, 2004), M8.4 1958 Etorofu earthquake (Fukao and Furamoto, 1979), the M8.5 1963 Kuril
earthquake (Beck and Ruff, 1987), and the M8.3 1994 Shikotan earthquake (Kikuchi and Kanamori,
1995).
1.63.2
148
-1000
-1100
-1200
1940
Changchun
sa
TECTONIC SUMMARY
Kit ami - 200

Yam a tu
Ban k
and Harley Benz
This map shows details of Japan and vicinity not visible in an earlier publication (Tarr and others, 2010).
Japan and its island possessions lie across four major tectonic plates: Pacific plate; North America plate;
Eurasia plate; and Philippine Sea plate. The Pacific plate is subducted into the mantle, beneath Hokkaido
and northern Honshu, along the eastern margin of the Okhotsk microplate, a proposed subdivision of the
North America plate (Bird, 2003). Farther south, the Pacific plate is subducted beneath volcanic islands
along the eastern margin of the Philippine Sea plate. This 2,200 km-long zone of subduction of the
Pacific plate is responsible for the creation of the deep offshore Ogasawara and Japan trenches as well as
parallel chains of islands and volcanoes, typical of Circumpacific island arcs. Similarly, the Philippine
Sea plate is itself subducting under the Eurasia plate along a zone, extending from Taiwan to southern
Honshu, that comprises the Ryukyu Islands and the Nansei-Shoto trench.
115
146
300
44
Institute of Earth Sciences, CSIC, Lluis Sol i Sabars s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Peak ground acceleration
144
La Perouse Strai
Harbin
Villaseor*,
FIGURE EXPLANATION
142
140
138
136
134
1950
Japan and Vicinity
Compiled by Susan Rhea, Arthur C. Tarr, Gavin Hayes, Antonio
132
Seismicity of the Earth 19002007
130
128
126
124
ei
122
120
118
116
114
J a
p a
n
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
-200
-300
-400
-500
-600
-700
-800
PROFILE X
300
400
500
600 X'
D'
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Summary Poster

USGS V1 - 4.5 hrs after OT
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Summary Poster

USGS Current Version
Web Traffic Statistics
Average 400,000 visits/day & 1.5 million page views/day

Peak 900,000 visits/day & 2.5 million page views/day
Christchurch
(M6.1) NZ
Tohoku
(M9.0) JP
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Source

Region Slab Geometry
NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
120
TRENCH
80
40
-40
Depth (km)
0
20
40
Slab1.0
Cross-section through hypocenter
60
Gold CMTs used to constrain slab geomety,

with active seismic data (maroon diamonds) and deep seismicity (not shown)
Grey circles & CMTs are background seismicity
80
Dip ()
0
Slab1.0
Red dashed line represents dip of slab. Grey circles
are dips of mechanisms used to constrain geometry
20
40
240
200
160
120
80
40
Distance Perpendicular to Average CMT Strike (km)
-40

NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
120
TRENCH
80
40
-40
Depth (km)
0
20
40
Slab1.0
60

80
Dip ()
0
Slab1.0
20
40
240
200
160
120
80
40
-40
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Moment Tensor Solutions

(Faulting Mechanisms)
USGS Research Centroid
Moment Tensor
Mw 8.9
Distributed ~34 minutes
after OT
global Centroid Moment

Tensor V1
Mw 9.1
Released 7 hrs after OT
(Jascha Polet, Cal Poly Pomona)
USGS W-Phase V1
Mw 8.9
Released 1 hr after OT
global Centroid Moment

Tensor V2
Mw 9.1
Released ~ 3 days after OT
USGS W-Phase V2
Mw 9.0
Released 6 hrs after OT
Earthquake Research
Institute, Japan, CMT V1
Mw 9.0

NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
120
TRENCH
80
40
-40
Depth (km)
0
20
40
Slab1.0
60

80
Dip ()
0
Slab1.0
20
40
240
200
160
120
80
40
-40
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Moment Tensor Analysis

Dip/Depth Sensitivity
NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
TRENCH
120
80
40
-40
Mww 9.04
Mww 8.99
Mww 9.03
Depth (km)
PREM interface
20
PREM interface
Mww 9.02
Mww 9.07
Mww 9.07
Mww 9.10
40
60
80
W-Phase Results
Fixed centroid locations, vary hypocenter to match slab geometry

NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
TRENCH
120
80
40
-40
Depth (km)
PREM interface
20
Mww 9.03
gCMT, V1
(Mw 9.12)
PREM interface
gCMT, V2
(Mw 9.08)
40
60
80
W-Phase vs gCMT
WP at the gCMT centroid recovers Mww 9.03 (not shown)

NEIC Epicenter
240
200
160
TRENCH
120
80
40
-40
Depth (km)
PREM interface
-20
PREM interface
-40
3. Mww 9.07
2. Mww 9.08
-60
-80
W-Phase
Start at PDE location
Reiterate (1-3) with new centroid location until MT no longer shifts
Update depths using Slab1.0 at each iteration
1. Mww 8.99
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Finite Fault Model

USGS V1 - 7 hrs after OT

Compact rupture, mostly

bilateral about epicenter, peak
slip up dip of hypocenter.
Rupture was likely restricted
to the shallow trench, and GPS
vectors suggest slip did not
reach the plate boundary
beneath the coastline.
Peak slips closer to 30+ m,
inferred from updated
modeling.

Slip (cm)
1800
1600

1400
1200
1000
800

50 km
600
Dept
40 km
30 km
400
20 km
200
10 km
0

14 6
Finite Fault Model USGS V1 Comparison with locking

estimates (Hashimoto et al. ,
2009, Nat. Geo.)
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Population Exposure &

Shaking Intensities vs Slab Geometry & Slip Extent
Instrumental Intensity (USGS Shakemap)

II
IV
VI
VIII
X
1
0
0
40
e
Plan
FFM
Depth (km)
80
120
160
200
240
280
560
480
400
320
240
160
80
-40
FFM Slip
(as fraction of
max slip)
Extent of major slip

(USGS FFM V1)
FFM Slip
(as fraction of
max slip)
Population (per sq. km), summed along strike

of USGS slip model V1 (240 km, sampled
every 10 km)
Note that slip during

the earthquake likely
did not extend to the
depths of the plate
boundary directly
under the Japan
coastline as shown
here, because GPS data
indicate that the
coastline moved down
coseismically.

USGS V2 - 2011/03/18

Updated modeling shows peak

slips of 30+ m, depending on
the parameterization of
rupture velocity. This updated
model shows peak slip of ~32
m, using a range of rupture
velocity from 1.25 - 3 km/s.

Models with constant rupture

velocity show slips of 40-50 m,
all at shallow depths. This may
imply that the up-dip nature of
rupture is well resolved, but
peak slips are not.

Slip (cm)
Low slip regions near the

fault edges, and fault base, are
also poorly resolved.
3200
3000
2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

50 km
40 km
Dept
30 km
20 km
10 km

1

U. California, Santa Barbara
Version 1
NEIC Hypocenter
Version 2
JMA Hypocenter
(50 km ESE)
Version 3
Body & Surface Waves
realigned using the
03/09/2011 Mw 7.3
foreshock.
Figures courtesy of Guangfu Shao, U. California, Santa Barbara
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: GPS Displacements

Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

)*

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km
0
41
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km
50
41
40
40
39
39
50

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38
38
2011/3/11 M9.0
2011/3/11 M9.0

37
37
36
36
10cm
50cm
138
139
302,%!#01,$%!4
140
141
142
143
0()/-+,..*
'
138
139
*')#'(#+
140
141
142
143
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Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Other Groups
Many groups have published (online) slip models for this earthquake; below is a list
of some of these (note this is not complete):
Geospatial Information Authority, Japan (using regional GPS data):
http://www.gsi.go.jp/cais/topic110315-index-e.html
Charles Ammon, Penn State; Thorne Lay, UCSC; Hiroo Kanamori, Caltech:
http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/~cammon/Japan2011EQ/
Caltech Tectonics Observatory:
http://tectonics.caltech.edu/slip_history/
Yuji Yagi, Naoki Nishimura, University of Tsukuba:
http://www.geol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~yagi-y/EQ/Tohoku/
For a more comprehensive list of models, and results from other analyses, see the
special IRIS website:
http://www.iris.edu/news/events/japan2011/
A History Of Large Earthquakes
Data: USGS PAGERCAT 1900-2008, USGS-NEIC & gCMT 2008-present

Figure courtesy of Charles Ammon, after Ammon et al., SRL, 2010

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The 03/11/2011 Mw9.

Created & Compiled by Gavin Hayes & David Wald

Jascha Polet, Cal Poly Pomona

Offshore Honshu, Japan Earthquake, 03/09/2011, Mw 7.2

M 7.2, NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Origin Time: Wed 2011-03-09 02:45:20 UTC (11:45:20 local)

Created: 21 hours, 44 minutes after earthquake

Estimated Economic Losses

Green alert for shaking-related fatalities

Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking

*Estimated exposure only includes population within the map area.

population per ~1 sq. km from Landscan

Historical Earthquakes (with MMI levels):

Selected City Exposure

Not felt Weak

Moderate Strong Very strong

bold cities appear on map

Event ID: usb0001r57

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake, 03/11/2011, Mw 9.0

M 9.0, NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Origin Time: Fri 2011-03-11 05:46:23 UTC (14:46:23 local)

Created: 4 days, 9 hours after earthquake

Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive

Estimated Economic Losses

Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities.

Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking

2,483k* 15,269k* 10,864k*

*Estimated exposure only includes population within the map area.

population per ~1 sq. km from Landscan

Historical Earthquakes (with MMI levels):

Selected City Exposure

Not felt Weak

Moderate Strong Very strong

bold cities appear on map

Event ID: usc0001xgp

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: ShakeMap Evolution

V2: O.T. +40 min M8.8

(Led to PAGER RED Alert

V3: O.T. +1 hr 9 min M8.9

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: ShakeMap Evolution

V4: O.T. +2 h 22 min

M 8.9, NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Origin Time: Fri 2011-03-11 05:46:23 UTC (14:46:23 local)

Created: 2 hours, 44 minutes after earthquake

Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive

Estimated Economic Losses

Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities.

Estimated Population Exposed to Earthquake Shaking

*Estimated exposure only includes population within the map area.

population per ~1 sq. km from Landscan

Selected City Exposure

bold cities appear on map

Event ID: usc0001xgp

Shaking & Aftershocks

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Shaking Duration in Tokyo,

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Shaking Duration in Tokyo,

Maximum PGA of 2.7g was recorded at Miyagi Prefecture

Erol Kalkan & Volkan Sevilgen (USGS)

Strong motion stations

Maximum PGA of 0.16g was recorded at Tokyo Metropolitan

March 17, 2011

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Aftershock (and Foreshock)

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Aftershock (and Foreshock)

Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Tectonic Summary

&02011/03/01 21:00 - 2011/03/09 21:00

'2011/03/01 21:00 - 2011/03/09 21:00