The Tohoku tsunami was caused by a massive undersea earthquake where the pacific plate was subducting under the eurasian plate, in the north-western Pacific Ocean. The earthquake was preceded by numerous destructive foreshocks and hundreds of aftershocks followed. One of the biggest foreshocks was recorded with 7.2 magnitude on the 9th of March. From 2011, Japan has received more than 5000 aftershocks within the next few years with 80 recorded to have more than 6.0 magnitude. This was the fourth largest earthquake ever recorded and the largest to ever hit Japan.
The tsunami was 6-8m in height along a 180km coast line. It was rushing at about 800km per hour. It brought devastating destruction to the northern islands and affected approximately 561 square kilometres inland. The earthquake managed to shifted Earth on its axis. It caused the coastline of Honshu to drop and moved the main island of Honshu east.
Scientists drilled into the subduction zone soon after the earthquake and discovered a thin, slippery clay layer over the fault line. The researchers think that this clay layer decreased the friction and allowed the two plates to slide a further distance, about 50 meters, causing the prodigious earthquake and tsunami.
The tsunami was 6-8m in height along a 180km coast line. It was rushing at about 800km per hour. It brought devastating destruction to the northern islands and affected approximately 561 square kilometres inland. The earthquake managed to shifted Earth on its axis. It caused the coastline of Honshu to drop and moved the main island of Honshu east.
Scientists drilled into the subduction zone soon after the earthquake and discovered a thin, slippery clay layer over the fault line. The researchers think that this clay layer decreased the friction and allowed the two plates to slide a further distance, about 50 meters, causing the prodigious earthquake and tsunami.
