My OperaQuake and Tsunami 2 (Japan)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 4:46:41 PM
The earthquake I reported yesterday was after all not quite normal.
The earthquake occurred where the Pacific plate, which is moving west, dives beneath Japan at a rate of about 8 centimetres a year. Usually, the Pacific plate tends to make the Japanese plate jump up vertically during earthquakes, which tend to be centred on the Japan side of the subduction fault where the two plates meet. Now, however, the earthquake was caused by the Japanese plate dropping down relative to the Pacific plate, making the current earthquake "unusual."
The location of its epicentre was farther east (and farther seaward) of the trench than usual for this area. Its position relative to the majority of earthquakes on this subduction fault is "not totally abnormal," but not expected either.
Geotimes: http://www.geotimes.org/nov05/WebExtra111505.html (with location map)
Ole
The earthquake occurred where the Pacific plate, which is moving west, dives beneath Japan at a rate of about 8 centimetres a year. Usually, the Pacific plate tends to make the Japanese plate jump up vertically during earthquakes, which tend to be centred on the Japan side of the subduction fault where the two plates meet. Now, however, the earthquake was caused by the Japanese plate dropping down relative to the Pacific plate, making the current earthquake "unusual."
The location of its epicentre was farther east (and farther seaward) of the trench than usual for this area. Its position relative to the majority of earthquakes on this subduction fault is "not totally abnormal," but not expected either.
Geotimes: http://www.geotimes.org/nov05/WebExtra111505.html (with location map)
Ole
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