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Tomography of the source zone of the great 2011 Tohoku earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanyuan Hua

    (Tohoku University
    China University of Geosciences)

  • Dapeng Zhao

    (Tohoku University)

  • Genti Toyokuni

    (Tohoku University)

  • Yixian Xu

    (Zhejiang University, Hangzhou)

Abstract

The mechanism and rupture process of the giant 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (Mw 9.0) are still poorly understood due to lack of permanent near-field observations. Using seismic arrival times recorded by dense seismograph networks on land and at ocean floor, we determine a detailed seismic tomography model of the megathrust zone beneath the Tohoku forearc. Our results show that the coseismic slip of the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake initiated at a boundary between a down-dip high-velocity anomaly and an up-dip low-velocity anomaly. The slow anomaly at shallow depths near the Japan trench may reflect low-rigidity materials that are close to the free surface, resulting in large slip and weak high-frequency radiation. Our new tomographic model can account for not only large slip near the trench but also weak high-frequency radiation from the shallow rupture areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanyuan Hua & Dapeng Zhao & Genti Toyokuni & Yixian Xu, 2020. "Tomography of the source zone of the great 2011 Tohoku earthquake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14745-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14745-8
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