What type of plate boundary caused the Japan earthquake 2011?
On 11 March 2011 at 05:46:23 UTC, a mega earthquake (EQ) with magnitude (Mw) 9.0 [The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake] occurred at a depth of about 24 km near the East coast of Honshu Island, Japan as a result of a thrust faulting on or near the subduction plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates.
What fault caused the 2011 Japan earthquake?
The earthquake was caused by the rupture of a stretch of the subduction zone associated with the Japan Trench, which separates the Eurasian Plate from the subducting Pacific Plate.
How did the 2011 Tohoku earthquake occur?
How It Happened. The 2011 event resulted from thrust faulting on the subduction zone plate boundary between the Pacific and North America plates, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This region has a high rate of seismic activity, with the potential to generate tsunamis.
Has there ever been a 9.0 earthquake?
Called Cascadia, the magnitude 9.0 quake caused the entire Pacific Northwest coastline to suddenly drop 3 to 6 feet and sent a 33-foot high tsunami across the ocean to Japan. “Japanese sources document this earthquake, which is the earliest documented historical event in Western Washington.
How long did the Tohoku earthquake last?
6 minutes
The Tohoku earthquake that struck Japan on 11th March 2011 was one of the biggest earthquakes recorded in the last 100 years and caused shaking at the surface that lasted 6 minutes.
Was Fukushima on a fault line?
The Idosawa Fault (井戸沢断層, Idozawa Dansō), also referred to as the Shionihara Fault, is an active earthquake fault system located in Fukushima Prefecture of Japan, to the west of Iwaki city.
How far inland did Japan Tsunami go?
6 miles
Maximum distance inland reached by the tsunami: 6 miles (10 km) in Sendai. Area of land covered by tsunami waters: about 217 sq miles (561 km sq)
Where was the earthquake in Japan in 2011?
On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the strongest earthquake in its recorded history. The earthquake struck below the North Pacific Ocean, 130 kilometers (81 miles) east of Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku region, a northern part of the island of Honshu.
When did the earthquake and tsunami in Japan happen?
2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami timeline 1 March 11, 2011: Map of the 2011 Japan earthquake epicenter off the northeast coast of the Tōhoku region of Japan’s Honshu island. 2 Within a week: A nuclear emergency was declared. 3 Within a month: Water service was restored to 90% of residents.
Where did the tsunami hit on March 11, 2011?
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude (Mw) 9.1 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Honshu on the Japan Trench. A tsunami that was generated by the earthquake arrived at the coast within 30 minutes, overtopping seawalls and disabling three nuclear reactors within days.
How many people died in the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami?
The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami event, often referred to as the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, resulted in over 18,000 dead, including several thousand victims who were never recovered.