Earthquake Data

The Japanese supersite URL described in a previous blog is being continually updated to reflect new observations, models and analyses.  The site is located at: http://outreach.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/eqvolc/201103_tohoku/eng/#tsunamiphoto... Several tsunami models are shown, along with movies that illustrate the innundation and runup associated with the event.  Photos are also displayed that were taken shortly after the earthquake.

Several frequently asked questions are answered.  For example, it has long been thought in Japan that a very large earthquake, similar to the September 1, 1923 M8.2 earthquake that destroyed Tokyo might occur in the Tokai region southwest of Tokyo.  The question of interest relates to the thinking of Japanese seismologists.  The question is whether a major aftershock on March 15 (M6.4) might trigger the expected Tokai earthquake:

"The East Shizuoka earthquake on 15th March occurred near Fujinomiya city. Between this area and Suruga Bay, there is an active fault called Huzikawa koko Fault Zone. The relevance of this active fault and the expected Tokai earthquake is pointed out. However, further consideration is needed to identify if this earthquake may directly trigger the Tokai earthquake. The further consideration concerning this was made in the meeting held on 16th evening by The headquarters for Earthquake research Promotion. And it was announced that 'an anomalous crustal change that may directly cause the expected Tokai earthquake was not observed' "

Another question was whether such a large (M9.0) earthquake was expected along the Tohoku region of Honshu:

"No earthquake in such scale occurred before in Japan. If Nankai earthquake is coupled with Tonankai Earthquake, magnitude 8.5 was expected. In any case, this earthquake is a maximum scale among the possible earthquakes that could happen around Japan."