The Great East Japan Earthquake, Tohoku

Question 1

When did the Great Tohoku Earthquake occur?

Answer 1

11 March 2011

Question 2

What was the magnitude of the Great Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 2

9.0 MW

Question 3

Where was the epicenter of the Great Tohoku Earthquake located?

Answer 3

70 km offshore of northeast Honshu Island

Question 4

Which tectonic plates are involved in the Great Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 4

Pacific and North American plates

Question 5

The Great Tohoku Earthquake is considered one of the most significant seismic events in the history of which country?

Answer 5

Japan

Question 6

True or False: The Great Tohoku Earthquake had a magnitude of 8.0 MW.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The Great Tohoku Earthquake occurred along the boundary between the _______ and North American plates.

Answer 7

Pacific

Question 8

What was the largest recorded earthquake to have struck Japan?

Answer 8

It lasted six minutes.

Question 9

How does the earthquake rank in terms of size since 1900?

Answer 9

One of the top five in the world.

Question 10

What type of earthquake was it?

Answer 10

Undersea megathrust earthquake.

Question 11

Where was the epicentre of the earthquake located?

Answer 11

70 km east of Oshika peninsula.

Question 12

What was the focus depth of the earthquake?

Answer 12

Approximately 30 km.

Question 13

By how much did Honshu island move east due to the earthquake?

Answer 13

2.4 m east.

Question 14

How much did the Earth shift on its axis because of the earthquake?

Answer 14

By 10-25 cm.

Question 15

What happened to a 400 km stretch of coastline as a result of the earthquake?

Answer 15

Dropped vertically by 0.6 m.

Question 16

How much did the sea bed rise after the earthquake?

Answer 16

By about 7 m.

Question 17

How far did the sea bed move westwards?

Answer 17

By 40-50 m.

Question 18

What was the height of the very large tsunamis triggered by the earthquake?

Answer 18

Up to 40.5 m in places.

Question 19

How far inland did the tsunami travel in places like Sendai?

Answer 19

Up to 10 km.

Question 20

Where did tsunami waves reach besides Japan?

Answer 20

Antarctica.

Question 21

What significant event occurred in Antarctica due to the tsunami waves?

Answer 21

Breaking off 125 km of ice as giant icebergs.

Question 22

How high were the tsunami waves that affected the coastline of California and Oregon?

Answer 22

Up to 2.4 m.

Question 23

What was the estimated damage caused by the tsunami in California and Oregon?

Answer 23

US$10 million.

Question 24

What was the height of the tsunami wave that overwhelmed Midway Atoll?

Answer 24

1.5 m.

Question 25

How many nesting birds drowned in the wildlife refuge at Midway Atoll?

Answer 25

110,000.

Question 26

What magnitude range did many aftershocks fall into?

Answer 26

7.0-8.0 MW.