Great Sendai Earthquake

Question 1

When and where

Answer 1

11 March 2011

NE Japan

Subduction zone between Eurasian (Continental) and Pacific (Oceanic) plates

Question 2

Spatial

Answer 2

NE Japan - Epicentre 80 miles east of city of Sendai

Focus - 18.6 miles below Pacific Ocean floor

Felt as far away as Russia, China and Taiwan

Tsunami affect Hawaii (3.3-3.6m) and California (9 hours later, 2.7m)

Wave reached Antarctica causing a portion of an Iceberg to break off

Question 3

Temporal

Answer 3

2:46 - 11th March 2011

Lasted 6 minutes

Preceded by several foreshocks –> One 7.2 mag

Hundreds of aftershocks –> dozens 6.0 and greater –>2 of 7.0 mag or greater

Strongest quake in the region since the beginning of record keeping

Question 4

Perception

Answer 4

Japan already had defences in place prior to 2011 and where considered the best nation when it comes to preparedness

TSUNAMIS - Barriers on and offshore, Trees planted on coastline, Vertical evacuation buildings, pre-emptive warning systems

EARTHQUAKE - counterweight systems in buildings, phone updates, awareness through education, survival kits, $70 million spent on laser that detect the slightest movement

Many parts of Japan have experienced devastating EQs –> Great Kanto EQ - 100,000 dead

SMART metres in place after Kobe

Question 5

Causes

Answer 5

Part of subduction zone 190 miles wide lurched ESE 50 metres and upwards 10 metres

Displaced water spawning a series of tsunamis

40m in Iwate and Tohoku

Question 6

Tsunami

Answer 6

Wave measuring 10m flooded city of Sendai –> airport submerged

1 wave penetrated 6 miles inland causing the River Natori to overflow

Large areas inundated with seawater

Russia had to evacuate 10,000 people off a small island

400km stretch of coastline dropped by 0.6m allowing the waves to overtop the defences more easily

Question 7

Short term responses

Question 8

Long term response