Tohoku Earthquake Japan 2011

Question 1

What magnitude was the earthquake that occurred on 11 March 2011 off the Japanese coastline?

Answer 1

9.0

This earthquake is known as the Tohoku Earthquake.

Question 2

What was the depth of the epicenter of the Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 2

20 miles

Question 3

How long did the Tohoku earthquake last?

Answer 3

6 minutes

Question 4

What was the height of the tsunami wave generated by the Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 4

Over 40 meters

Question 5

What geological feature caused the tsunami during the Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 5

Offshore uplift

Question 6

What type of plate margin is Japan located on?

Answer 6

Convergent/destructive plate margin

Question 7

Which plates are involved in the tectonic activity around Japan?

Answer 7

Philippine Plate, Pacific Plate, Eurasian Plate, North American Plate

Question 8

How much can the tectonic plates around Japan move each year?

Answer 8

Up to 9 cm

Question 9

What happens to the Pacific Plate at the convergent margin?

Answer 9

It is being subducted underneath the Eurasian Plate

Question 10

What was the impact of friction build-up in tectonic plates?

Answer 10

It caused an earthquake when released

Question 11

How far inland did the tsunami reach in some places?

Answer 11

10 km

Question 12

What was damaged as a result of the Tohoku Earthquake?

Answer 12

Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

Question 13

What was the consequence of the Fukushima disaster?

Answer 13

Meltdown of seven reactors

Question 14

What significant social movement was influenced by the Fukushima disaster?

Answer 14

A large anti-nuclear movement

Question 15

Why was the Tohoku Earthquake considered the costliest natural disaster in recorded history?

Answer 15

Due to the development of Japan

Question 16

Fill in the blank: The earthquake triggered a tsunami which reached heights of _______ when it reached the coast.

Answer 16

40m

Question 17

True or False: The Tohoku Earthquake occurred on 11 March 2010.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

What was the economic cost of the disaster?

Answer 18

US$235 billion

This makes it the most expensive natural disaster in world history.

Question 19

What percentage of people in coastal areas followed tsunami warnings?

Answer 19

58%

The remaining 42% did not follow the warning.

Question 20

What happened to the nuclear power reactors due to the earthquake?

Answer 20

Meltdown of seven reactors

Radiation levels were over eight times normal levels at one point.

Question 21

What major transport disruption occurred as a result of the disaster?

Answer 21

Damage to the Tohoku Expressway

Japan’s transport network suffered huge disruptions.

Question 22

What initiative did the ‘Japan move forward committee’ propose?

Answer 22

Young adults and teenagers could help rebuild parts of Japan

This was in response to the devastation caused by the earthquake.

Question 23

By how much did parts of North East Japan move closer to North America?

Answer 23

2.4 m

This was due to land movement from the earthquake.

Question 24

How much did a 250-mile stretch of coastline drop due to the earthquake?

Answer 24

0.6 m

This allowed the tsunami to travel further inland.

Question 25

How many people died as a result of the disaster?

Answer 25

16,000

Additionally, 6,000 were injured, and 130,000 were displaced.

Question 26

What was the height of the tsunami wave that flooded the nuclear plant?

Answer 26

9 m

This wave flooded the plant’s generators and electrical wiring.

Question 27

How many buildings were damaged or destroyed?

Answer 27

332,395 buildings

This includes roads, bridges, railways, and hospitals.

Question 28

How many households were left without electricity?

Answer 28

4.4 million

This occurred in North-East Japan.

Question 29

How many earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or more were recorded following the main earthquake?

Answer 29

Over 800

These were classified as aftershocks.

Question 30

What was the maximum height of the tsunami that devastated towns?

Answer 30

Up to 40 m

This resulted in significant loss of life and damage.

Question 31

What geological phenomenon caused some coastal areas to experience land subsidence?

Answer 31

The earthquake

Some beachfronts dropped by more than 50 cm.

Question 32

By how much did the Pacific plate shift westwards?

Answer 32

Between 20 and 40 m

This is an estimate by geologists.

Question 33

How much did the seabed near the epicenter shift?

Answer 33

24 m

The seabed off the coast of the Miyagi province moved by 3 m.

Question 34

What was the effect of the earthquake on the earth’s axis?

Answer 34

Moved by between 10 and 25 cm

It shortened the day by 1.8 microseconds.

Question 35

What phenomenon occurred in many parts of Tokyo built on reclaimed land?

Answer 35

Liquefaction

This resulted in damage to 1,046 buildings.