Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake
Abstract The near-trench coseismic rupture behaviour of the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of near-field observations. Differential bathymetry offers a unique approach to studying offshore coseismic seafloor deformation but has a limited horizontal resolutio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38970-z |
| _version_ | 1797806676158447616 |
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| author | Kai Zhang Yanru Wang Yu Luo Dineng Zhao Mingwei Wang Fanlin Yang Ziyin Wu |
| author_facet | Kai Zhang Yanru Wang Yu Luo Dineng Zhao Mingwei Wang Fanlin Yang Ziyin Wu |
| author_sort | Kai Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The near-trench coseismic rupture behaviour of the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of near-field observations. Differential bathymetry offers a unique approach to studying offshore coseismic seafloor deformation but has a limited horizontal resolution. Here we use differential bathymetry estimates with improved horizontal resolutions to investigate near-trench coseismic slip behaviours in the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake. In the main rupture region, a velocity-strengthening behaviour in the shallow fault is observed. By contrast, the seafloor uplift decreases towards the trench, but the trend inverts near the backstop interface outcrop, revealing significant off-fault deformation features. Amongst various competing off-fault effects observed, we suggest that inelastic deformation plays a predominant role in near-trench tsunami excitation. Large trench-bleaching rupture is also observed immediately north of 39°, delimiting the northern extent of the main rupture region. Overall, striking spatial heterogeneity of the shallow rupture behaviour is revealed for the region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:10:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0b902b8055e41d2af9549a07267896a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:10:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0b902b8055e41d2af9549a07267896a2023-06-11T11:19:13ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-06-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-38970-zComplex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquakeKai Zhang0Yanru Wang1Yu Luo2Dineng Zhao3Mingwei Wang4Fanlin Yang5Ziyin Wu6College of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and TechnologyCollege of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and TechnologyCollege of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural ResourcesKey Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural ResourcesCollege of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural ResourcesAbstract The near-trench coseismic rupture behaviour of the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of near-field observations. Differential bathymetry offers a unique approach to studying offshore coseismic seafloor deformation but has a limited horizontal resolution. Here we use differential bathymetry estimates with improved horizontal resolutions to investigate near-trench coseismic slip behaviours in the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake. In the main rupture region, a velocity-strengthening behaviour in the shallow fault is observed. By contrast, the seafloor uplift decreases towards the trench, but the trend inverts near the backstop interface outcrop, revealing significant off-fault deformation features. Amongst various competing off-fault effects observed, we suggest that inelastic deformation plays a predominant role in near-trench tsunami excitation. Large trench-bleaching rupture is also observed immediately north of 39°, delimiting the northern extent of the main rupture region. Overall, striking spatial heterogeneity of the shallow rupture behaviour is revealed for the region.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38970-z |
| spellingShingle | Kai Zhang Yanru Wang Yu Luo Dineng Zhao Mingwei Wang Fanlin Yang Ziyin Wu Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake Nature Communications |
| title | Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake |
| title_full | Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake |
| title_fullStr | Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake |
| title_short | Complex tsunamigenic near-trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 Tohoku–Oki earthquake |
| title_sort | complex tsunamigenic near trench seafloor deformation during the 2011 tohoku oki earthquake |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38970-z |
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